Postoperative long-term results for the comparison of the symmetry of the upper lip during lip closure according to Millard and Pfeifer

BACKGROUND: Clefts in newborns are associated with severe morphological and functional impairment. Especially the lip is of importance as if the treatment result is unsatisfactory, it can lead to psychological changes in the patient. Different operative procedures have been developed over the last decades. The aim of the presented study was the comparison of the surgical techniques according to Millard and Pfeifer regarding the temporal development of the postoperative symmetry of the lip height and mouth width. METHODS: Digitized photographs of patients from the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Göttingen were evaluated from 1979 to 1996. With a video analysis program, the lip height and mouth width were analyzed regarding the symmetry. We demonstrated the symmetry values over a period of 8 years in order to show the influence of growth on postoperative results. RESULTS: The development of the vertical symmetry of the Philtrum and the lip vermillion on the cleft side in comparison to the healthy side behaves differently depending on Pfeifer and Millard. The lip height of the cleft lip was shorter in both techniques than on the healthy side, but Pfeifer’s difference was significantly more pronounced. The lip vermillion height on the cleft side was slightly shorter in the Millard group and markedly larger in the Pfeifer group. Both techniques can achieve good symmetry results for the vertical dimension of the lip. According to Pfeifer, the development of the horizontal dimension on the cleft side is bigger within the first 4 years than on the healthy side; according to the Millard technique, the horizontal development is smaller. These differences are greater within the first 6 years and approach between the 6th and 8th year. CONCLUSIONS: The Millard technique demonstrates better results concerning the philtrum and vermillion symmetry during growth within the first 6 years. Over the whole study period, growth corrects the philtrum and vermillion symmetry within the Pfeifer group.