Cleft Lip and Palate Repair #33050

The patient, a male child, underwent unilateral cleft lip repair using a modified Millard technique. Presurgical orthopedic treatment with a Ruas/Feldman modified Latham appliance to align the alveolar ridge, facilitating gingivoperialveoloplasty during lip repair, a tension free closure of the cleft and tip rhinoplasty. The photo at 8 days old shows a wide cleft affecting the upper lip and nose which is deviated to the noncleft side. At 26 months post-op he shows beautiful lip aesthetics with a well aligned vermillion border and cupid's bow anatomy. The nasal symmetry is nearly perfect with little evidence of his previous cleft. The alignment of facial features appears more balanced, reflecting successful surgical intervention. This case illustrates effective application of presurgical orthopedics combined with surgical techniques for cleft repair.