The Triple Swing Flap Technique to Correct the Asymmetry of Unilateral Cleft Lip Nose Deformities

Abstract

The correction of a nasal deformity is a decisive step in the secondary treatment of patients with cleft lip and palate. The complex nasal deformity in these patients is caused partly by the anomaly itself and is partly a result of previous corrective surgery. Correcting the nasal deformity involves solving four complex problems: the septal deformity; the malposition of the exterior nose; the deformity of the nasal tip; and the deviation of the ala on the cleft side. The stigma of the patients with a cleft is sustained mainly by the asymmetry of the nasal entrances. Many operations, some of which cause extensive additional scarring, have been suggested for removing this typical feature in patients with clefts. We developed a triple swinging flap technique which has proved successful when used with an open as well as a closed approach. This also enables us to achieve symmetry of the nostrils.