Lateral crus graft with autologous rib cartilage for cleft lip nostril asymmetry: a report of 35 cases.

A surgical technique of lateral crus strut graft to correct the deformity of nostril contour and improve asymmetric nostril shape by autologous rib cartilage was reported. Thirty-five patients (20 males and 15 females), with a mean age of 19 years (range of 16-26 years) were included in this study. All of the patients suffered moderate to severe unilateral cleft lip nostril deformity and underwent surgical technique of lateral crus strut graft by autologous rib cartilage to correct the asymmetric nostril contour from 2010 to 2012. The views of the nostril contour on both sides were reviewed and some parameters were measured at different time points (preoperatively, and 3 months and one year postoperatively) including the long axis and short axis of the nostrils. The differences in nostrils including long axis, short axis, elliptical area and eccentricity on the both sides were compared at different time points. The differences in the long axis and eccentricity of the nostrils on the two sides were decreased significantly between the preoperative view and postoperative view (P<0.05). The surgical technique of lateral crus graft with autologous rib cartilage is effective to correct the abnormal nostril contour and improve the asymmetry for unilateral cleft clip patients.