Force balance reconstruction of orbicularis oris in correction of unilateral cleft lip deformity.

Objectives: Short-term outcome evaluation for the correction of unilateral cleft lip deformity with a new technique.

Methods: Forty-four patients with unilateral cleft lip deformity were included in the study and in which the orbicularis oris muscle was reconstructed to achieve the optimal force balance of reconstructed orbicularis oris. The photometric two-dimensional indexes, including the philtrum oblique angle and asymmetry ratios (lip height, lip width, vertical distance from the white roll to the vermilion bottom at the Cupid's bow point, and vertical distance from the Cupid 's bow points to facial midline), were employed to measure and evaluate the outcome.

Short-term nasal symmetry repaired by force-balanced muscular reconstruction technique.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the postoperative outcome of the new and classical muscular reconstruction technique combined with nasal internal-fixation method for secondary deformity post unilateral cleft lip repair. A rationale is provided for the further surgical improvement of secondary deformities.

Methods: Sixty patients aged 4-18 years with secondary unilateral cleft lip-nose deformity were involved in this research.

Wnt7a promotes muscle regeneration in branchiomeric orbicularis oris muscle.

Background: The orbicularis oris muscle exhibits a deficiency in cleft lip patients. Compared with the somite-derived limb muscles, the regeneration performance of the branchiomeric orofacial muscle has seldom been investigated.

Objective: This study aims to explore the possibility of augmenting the orbicularis oris muscle through the stimulus of Wnt7a.