Oronasal Transfixion Suture to Prevent Uplifted Nasal Floor Deformity in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients: A 5-Year Follow-Up

Abstract

Objective: In unilateral cleft lip and palate, the reconstructed nasal floor is sometimes uplifted regardless of the reconstructive method used. We used a 5-0 absorbable anchoring suture, the oronasal transfixion suture (ONT suture), to fasten the reconstructed nasal floor to the orbicularis oris muscle to prevent this deformity. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of the ONT suture. Design: Blind retrospective study of photography and chart review. Setting: Shinshu University Hospital, tertiary care, Nagano, Japan. Private practice. Patients: Ninety-three consecutive patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate who had undergone primary nasolabial repair in our department and affiliated hospitals between 1999 and 2011 participated in this study. Finally, 45 patients were included. Interventions: The ONT suture was put in place at the time of primary nasolabial repair. Main Outcome Measure: The height of the nasal floor was evaluated on submental view photographs at 5 years old. Results: The ONT suture was applied in 21 patients. The height of the nasal floor on the cleft side was significantly closer to that on the noncleft side with the ONT suture than without the ONT suture (P =.008). Conclusions: The ONT suture is effective to prevent uplifted nasal floor deformity on the cleft side// in unilateral complete cleft lip and palate at the time of primary nasolabial repair.