EARLY AND LATE TREATMENT OF UNILATERAL CLEFT NASAL DEFORMITY

Surgical techniques have been developed to correct nasal deformity associated with unilateral cleft lip, alveolus, and palate. This deformity can be significantly corrected during the primary cleft lip repair, as performed by the technique described by the author. Secondary corrective procedures focus mostly on skeletal support and lining distortions as well as on rearrangements of lower lateral cartilages. At the final stage, esthetic appearance can be significantly improved by contour remodeling with the addition of cartilage and/or bony implants. Choice of surgical technique depends upon the severity of the deformity and the experience and proficiency of the surgeon. At the present time, correction of the nasal deformity associated with a unilateral cleft is an integral part of primary cleft lip repair and part of multidisciplinary management of cleft deformities.