Abstract
We assessed the nasal shape in patients with unilateral cleft lip who underwent reverse U incision secondarily and compared the results with our original assessment sheet that was first published in 2007. Surgery was performed by a single surgeon from January 2000 to May 2010 (n = 29). Patients were categorized into one of the following three groups: group 1, cleft lip patients; group 2, cleft lip and alveolus patients; and group 3, cleft lip, alveolus and palate patients. Each group was assessed by the scoring sheet in both the preoperative and the postoperative period, and the scores were then compared. The scores of group 1 just before secondary rhinoplasties were significantly higher than those of group 3 (P = 0.039). The scores of group 3 after the secondary rhinoplasties worsened slightly during the follow-up when compared with group 1 (P = 0.048). However, the scores at final assessment in all groups were relatively similar. All cases experienced marked improvement in response to secondary reverse U incision. Further, this scoring method was very simple and effective for assessment of nasal deformity in patients with unilateral cleft lip.
