Long-term results after 40 years experience with treatment of rare facial clefts: Part 1--Oblique and paramedian clefts.

Background: Oblique and paramedian rare facial clefts impose a major reconstructive challenge and long-term assessments of the outcomes remain scarce. This study provides new details regarding surgical techniques and timing, influence of growth, and difficulties of this pathology on the long-term; a guideline for surgical treatment is given.

Methods: Twenty-nine adults with an oblique or paramedian facial cleft and surgically treated in the authors' unit between 1969 and 2009, were included.