Component Restoration in the Unilateral Intermediate Cleft Tip Rhinoplasty: Technique and Long-Term Outcomes.

Background: The intermediate cleft tip rhinoplasty is performed in childhood to address residual tip asymmetries during the most critical period of psychosocial development. The authors describe and evaluate long-term outcomes of that approach for the unilateral cleft lip and palate patient based on the concept of individual restoration of each abnormal anatomical component.

Methods: Photomorphometric analyses of unilateral cleft lip and palate patients (n = 50) who underwent intermediate cleft tip rhinoplasty using the component restoration technique were evaluated preoperatively (time 0) and postoperatively at less than 1 year (time 1), 1 to 3 years (time 2), and more than 3 years (time 3) and compared to age-matched unilateral cleft lip and palate control patients. Nasal relationships (alar symmetry, nasal tip protrusion-to-alar base width ratio, and height-to-width dimensions for the cleft and noncleft nostrils) were compared over time using a linear mixed-effect model.

Results: At time 0, both groups demonstrated similar nasal relationships, with the exception of a wider cleft-side nostril in relationship to height in the rhinoplasty group. The component restoration technique improved all four nasal relationships at all postoperative time points compared with time 0 in a statistically significant manner, whereas control patients did not demonstrate significant changes at the corresponding ages. Long-term differences at time 3 revealed a trend toward improved alar symmetry and cleft-side and non-cleft-side nostril dimensions, and a significant improvement in the nasal tip protrusion-to-alar base width ratio in intermediate cleft tip rhinoplasty-treated versus control patients (p = 0.002).

Conclusion: The component restoration technique for the unilateral intermediate cleft tip rhinoplasty improves nasal relationships toward normal immediately and in a sustained manner for at least 3 years.

Clinical Question/level Of Evidence: Therapeutic, III.