This article is only available in the PDF format. Download the PDF to view the article, as well as its associated figures and tables.
A thorough review of basic concepts of surgery of the cleft nose was presented by Robert Bumsted, MD, at the spring scientific meeting of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Denver. The author reviewed a series of 200 cases that occurred over a ten-year period. He performed maneuvers to enhance columellar length and to reposition the alar base at the time of the primary cleft lip repair at approximately 10 weeks of age. Alar base implants of irradiated autogenous cartilage are inserted intraorally with extreme overcorrection of the alar base support. Septoplasty and turbinate resection surgery are performed at the age they become necessary for maintenance of adequate nasal airway. The ultimate rhinoplasty repair work during the teenage years is performed through an external rhinoplasty approach with total freeing of the lateral crura from vestibular skin and an asymmetrical V-to-Y columellar lengthening procedure. The overall surgical