• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제39권5호
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• pp.470-476
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• 2012

Background The whistle deformity is one of the common sequelae of secondary cleft lip deformities. Santos reported using a crossed-denuded flap for primary cleft lip repair to prevent a vermilion notching. The authors modified this technique to correct the whistle deformity, calling their version the cross-muscle flap. Methods From May 2005 to January 2011, 14 secondary unilateral cleft lip patients were treated. All suffered from a whistle deformity, which is characterized by the deficiency of the central tubercle, notching in the upper lip, and bulging on the lateral segment. The mean age of the patients was 13.8 years and the mean follow-up period was 21.8 weeks. After elevation from the lateral vermilion and medial tubercle, two muscle flaps were crossed and turned over. The authors measured the three vertical heights and compared the two height ratios before and after surgery for evaluation of the postoperative results. Results None of the patients had any notable complications and the whistle deformity was corrected in all cases. The vertical height ratios at the midline on the upper lip and the affected Cupid's bow point were increased (P<0.05). The motion of the upper lip was acceptable. Conclusions A cross muscle flap is simple and it leaves a minimal scar on the lip. We were able to reconstruct the whistle deformity in secondary unilateral cleft lip patients with a single state procedure using a cross-muscle flap.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.747-754
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• 2011

Purpose: The Abbe flap procedure has been used to correct disharmony of the upper and lower lips as well as for making a philtrum for patients with secondary cleft lip deformities. But the Abbe flap procedure adds two scars in addition to the prior operative scar on the upper lip. This study was conducted to determine the treatment outcomes of esthetic subunit excision of the scar on the philtrum and Abbe flap coverage for correction of cleft lip deformities with photogrammetric analysis. Methods: This study investigated a total of 11 patients with cleft lip deformities who underwent scar excision with Abbe flap coverage, and the patients were followed up for at least 6 months. Under general anesthesia, a mushroom-shaped Abbe flap was drawn on the lower lip with a width of 8 mm and a height 1~2 mm longer than that of the philtral midline. The epidermis and dermis of the scar on the upper lip were excised. In the cases with alar base depression, the orbicularis oris muscle was split vertically and transposed to the alar base. The Abbe flap was harvested as a pedicled flap containing a small amount of muscle and this was rotated 180-degree to be inserted into the upper lip. Mucosa, muscle, subcutaneous tissue and skin were closed in layers. The flap was divided at the 7~14 postoperative day. The postoperative outcomes were evaluated by using photogrammetric analysis. Three indices were measured from the standard clinical photographs taken before and after the surgery. For anthroposcopic assessment, observers described the postoperative outcomes using an ordinary scale method. Results: The postoperative values obtained in the photogrammetric analysis showed improvement as compared with the preoperative ones. Improved anthroposcopic outcomes were also noted. Conclusion: Scar excision and Abbe flap coverage were proven to be effective in improving protrusion and the height of the upper lip, the scar of the upper lip and the symmetry of Cupid's bow and the philtral column, as well as formation of the philtral dimple.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.62-65
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• 2013

The philtrum plays a key role in the appearance of the upper lip and nostril sill. Therefore, construction of the philtrum is crucial for attaining a natural appearance of the upper lip. We used a flipping myoplasty of the orbicularis oris muscle on a patient with a flat philtrum in order to effectively reconstruct the philtral dimple and column. A 35-year-old female presented to our department with the complaint of a flat upper lip. A superficial layer of the orbicularis oris muscle on the median aspect of the upper lip was vertically incised and elevated to a thickness of 2 mm. Both sides of the elevated muscle flap were then folded to the lateral sides so that the border could be sutured onto the outer portion of the orbicularis oris muscle. The patient was observed for one year postoperatively. Her philtrum deepened by 1.25 mm, with the central angle of her Cupid's bow improving from a preoperative measurement of $146^{\circ}$ to $128^{\circ}$ postoperatively. In a patient with an indistinct philtrum, a flipping orbicularis oris myoplasty was performed to attain a definite philtral column and a philtral dimple. Natural upper lip movement was maintained, and an aesthetically and functionally satisfactory reconstruction was achieved.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.133-139
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• 2012

모든 환자들은 구순접합술을 시행 받았고 구순 및 구개열 유아들은 악정형장치인 Latham을 사용하였다. 수술의 기술적 변화들은 앞서 설명하였다. Columella 부위의 높은 rotation과 releasing incision은 내측 입술 부위를 충분히 길게 해주고, advancement flap이 phitral column 상방으로 최소로 침범되게 하여 균형적인 입술을 만들 수 있다. 또한 구륜근을 외번시켜 philtral ridge를 형성하고, 작은 unilimb Z-plasty을 구순측 Cupid's bow handle 높이에 맞게 시행 후, vermilion-cutaneous junction에서부터 상방으로 cutaneous closure 시행한다. 변위된 alar cartilage는 nostril rim incision을 통해 동측 upper lateral cartilage에 매달며, Alar base는 anterior-caudal septum의 위치, sill의 설정 그리고 외측 vestibular web 제거를 포함하여 3차원적으로 설계하여 치료해야 한다. 이번에 소개한 Mulliken의 치료법이 환자들과 외과의사들에게 많은 도움이 되기를 바란다.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.178-183
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• 2013

Cleft lip arises from congenital underdevelopment with various degrees and patterns. Mulliken named a unilateral incomplete cleft lip with no severe cleft as a lesser-form cleft lip and categorized it into three subgroups. Anatomically categorized subgroups are minor-form, microform, and mini-microform cleft by the extent of vermilion-cutaneous dysjuntion. The vermillion cutaneous notch is more than 3 mm from the regular Cupid's bow peak for minor-form, less than 3 mm for microform, and almost no gap with discontinuity on the vermillion cutaneous border for mini-microform. The treatments are rotational advancement flap for minor-form, double unillimb Z-plasty for microform, and vertical lenticular excision for mini-microform, respectively. This article aims to present the literature review about the incomplete lesser form cleft lip classified by Mulliken and to report our experiences.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.210-216
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• 2017

Background In treating minor-form or microform cleft lip, obtaining an optimal result is a challenge because of the visible scarring caused by traditional surgery. We present a refined method using muscle overlapping with a minimal skin incision in patients younger than 3 years, a group characterized by thin muscle. Methods The surgical technique involves restoration of the notched vermillion using Z-plasty, formation of the philtral column using overlapping of an orbicularis oris muscle flap through an intraoral incision, and correction of the cleft lip nasal deformity using a reverse-U incision and V-Y plasty. A single radiologist evaluated ultrasonographic images of the upper lip. Results Sixty patients were treated between September 2008 and June 2014. The age at the time of operation ranged from 6 to 36 months (mean, 26 months). The follow-up period ranged from 8 to 38 months (mean, 20 months) in minor-form cases and from 14 to 64 months (mean, 37 months) in microform cases. A notched cupid's bow was corrected in 10 minor-form cases and 50 microform cases. Ultrasonographic images were obtained from 3 patients with minor-form cleft lip and 9 patients with microform cleft lip 12 months after surgery. The average muscle thickness was 4.5 mm on the affected side and 4.1 mm on the unaffected side. Conclusions The advantages of the proposed procedure include the creation of an anatomically natural philtrum with minimal scarring. This method also preserves the continuity and function of the muscle and provides sufficient augmentation of the philtral column and nostril sill.