Alar Rim Triangular Flap for Congenital Nasal Cleft Repair in Pediatric Patients.

BACKGROUND According to Tessier classification, number 1 and number 2 craniofacial clefts involve the nasal ala. Congenital nasal cleft is not common and is difficult for reconstruction. Notches in the medial one-third of either nasal ala are typical manifestations in these patients. Herein, we introduce a alar rim triangular flap, which is indeed a local flap, for the treatment of isolated nasal cleft due to congenital deformities in pediatric patients. METHODS The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study including 10 consecutive pediatric patients undergoing this surgery. This alar rim triangular flap including 2 triangles was existing nasal tissue near the cleft. The alar rim defect was covered through local tissue re-arrangement. The authors reviewed the photographs and clinical medical notes of these patients carefully. Self-reported satisfactions of patients (or children's parents) with the scar morphology and correction effect of this procedure were evaluated as well at postoperative every follow-up. RESULTS All the cases were followed up regularly, and the average follow-up time was 22 months (ranged from 13-38 months). All the nasal clefts were reconstructed successfully. The alar rim triangular flap survived with no flap loss. The wound created by this procedure healed primarily. No alar retraction, nasal obstruction or step-off deformities were observed during postoperative follow-up. There were no patients unsatisfied with the outcome of the scar morphology and correction effect of this operation. CONCLUSIONS The newly designed alar rim triangular flap in this study can be an alternative treatment for correcting isolated congenital nasal cleft with optimal clinical outcome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level 4.