[Electromyography study on complete bilateral cleft lip after reparation.].

Purpose: This study was undertaken to evaluate the motion effect of complete bilateral cleft lips objectively using electromyography.

Methods: 45 patients of complete bilateral cleft lips after operations several years which included 20 patients repaired using orbicularis oris muscle restoring functional method and 25 patients using straight line suture method were examined with electromyography (EMG) in prolabium, right and left lateral lips respectively. The most potential in every area of each patient at the maximal lip contraction position was measured and the values of two different method groups were subject to statistical analysis.

Results: The prolabium and lateral lips of both groups had no electric activity at posture position. At maximal contraction position, the mean potential of prolabium of orbicularis oris muscle restoring method group had no difference with the lateral lips. But the mean potential of prolabium of straight line suture method group was lower than that of the lateral lips significantly,also,it was lower than the potential of prolabium in the muscle functional reparation group.

Conclusions: The reparation method of restoring orbicularis oris muscle to complete bilateral cleft lips was better than the straight line suture method in the motion effect. These findings suggest the superiority and necessity of functional muscle reparation for complete bilateral cleft lips.