Role of cartilage correcting sutures in single-stage secondary rhinoplasty for unilateral cleft lip nose deformity.

[INTRODUCTION] The purpose of this study is to highlight the role of cartilage correcting suture in single-stage surgical correction for secondary unilateral cleft lip nose deformity with three-dimensional observations of preoperative and postoperative nasal forms.

[MATERIAL AND METHODS] Between July 2017 and June 2019, 18 consecutive patients of unilateral cleft lip nose deformity aged between 16 and 28 years underwent surgical correction. The corrective procedure of nose involved columellar lengthening, medial and lateral nasal osteotomies along with augmentation of premaxilla by bone graft at premaxilla, and alar base wedge resections. Focus was laid to correct nasal cartilaginous framework using tip sutures along with repositioning of lower lateral cartilages, fixation of the alar cartilage complex to the septum, and the upper lateral cartilages. We investigated the following surgical interventions and nasal tip suture techniques, which were transdomal suture, interdomal suture, lateral crural mattress suture, columella septal suture, and intercrural suture.

[RESULTS] We achieved adequate esthetic and functional results in all the patients without any morbidity.

[CONCLUSION] This concept of simultaneous approach toward complete single-stage correction of secondary cleft lip nasal deformity incorporating various cartilage suture using 5-0 nylon in developing nation like ours, where the patient presents late with complex conditions showed promising esthetic and functional outcome.