The nasal cantilever technique in children undergoing primary cleft lip surgery: novel concepts and review

BACKGROUND: Nasal deformity associated with cleft lip deformity is a challenging issue, encompassing controversies, theories, and a diversity of techniques. Historically, esthetic outcomes have ranged from being below expectations to barely acceptable. METHOD: Based on the concept that the nasal cartilaginous framework in clefts is similar to that of a collapsing pyramid, a novel suspension technique has been described. The entire cartilaginous structure is lifted from the infratip segment with a loop suture and is secured in a cantilever fashion onto the periosteum overlying the nasal bone. This part of the operation is performed in a semiclosed manner. The technique is applied during primary surgery in bilateral and unilateral nasal cleft lip deformities, with changes in the orientation of the cantilever loop suture. Studies conducted by Masters S. Tajima, H. McComb, H. Thomson, D. Fisher, and J. Mulliken, which are most relevant to this article, have been reviewed and discussed throughout. RESULTS: The technique was first applied over 10 years ago. A case series of nine children whose parents consented to the developing technique is presented with follow-up ranging from months to years, along with technical descriptions and illustrative drawings. None of these cases had preoperative orthopedic correction, molding, or postoperative nostril splints. The esthetic outcome was optimal enough; none of the cases requested a secondary correction. CONCLUSION: The nasal cantilever technique is a novel concept in cleft nasal deformity, which can be used in conjunction with an appropriate lip technique, per the surgeon’s discretion. Other than a learning curve, we believe that it provides a solid correction by securing the cartilaginous structures after they have been mobilized to a stable base, the nasion.