|
The bilateral cleft lip, a more severe form of clefting than unilateral cleft lip, involves separation of the lip along philtral lines, isolating the central segment (prolabium). Bilateral cleft lip may be either symmetrical or asymmetrical, in which case the cleft lip is split more on one side than on the other. The cleft affects the obvious facial form as an anatomic deformity and has functional consequences, affecting the child’s ability to eat, speak, hear, and breathe. Although there would seem to be quite a variance in reported figures, ratios of cleft lip with or without cleft palate have gone as high as 1:500 and as low as 1:1000. It is known that less than 10% of cleft lips are bilateral. Although bilateral cleft lip is less common than unilateral cleft lip, the deformity is more severe, and the reconstructive technique is more complex. Surgery is the only treatment necessary for patients with bilateral cleft lip. Accompanying the evolution of surgical repair is the increasingly important role of orthodontic support with early presurgical alveolar and nasal molding. Repositioning the maxillary and alveolar segments into a more anatomic position allows the surgeon to repair the lip and associated nasal deformity under more optimal conditions. The purpose of this article is to review the related anatomy, presurgical management, and surgical management of bilateral cleft lip.
|