What's in a Name?—A Scoping Review of Published Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair Techniques

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Publication Details

Journal
The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal
Published
2026-09-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/10556656261480202
Primary Topic
Cleft Lip and Palate Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

What's in a Name?—A Scoping Review of Published Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair Techniques

Alexander T. Plonkowski, Priyanka Naidu, William P. Magee, Caroline A. Yao et al.
The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal
Cleft Lip and Palate Research
article

What's in a Name?—A Scoping Review of Published Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair Techniques

Alexander T. Plonkowski, Priyanka Naidu, William P. Magee, Caroline A. Yao, Rachel Donaldson
article en

Abstract

ObjectiveTo quantify the number of published cleft lip repair techniques that are described in substantial detail to be reproduced.DesignPRISMA-compliant scoping review.SettingN/A.Patients, Participants66 published articles.InterventionsPrimary unilateral cleft lip repair.Main Outcome MeasuresData on 14 predefined steps: use of pre-surgical devices, skin design and marking, local anesthesia technique, skin dissection, muscle dissection, mucosal management, frenuloplasty/frenulum management, muscular reapproximation, nasal floor closure, vermillion closure, skin closure, alar management, rhinoplasty, and post-operative stenting.ResultsFour techniques were identified as being "original": Rose, Mirault, Hagedorn, and Millard. Millard's technique was modified the most (n = 24, 36.4%). In total, 27 (40.9%) articles reported their technique design as "straight line," 31 (47.0%) "rotation advancement," and 8 (12.1%) "anatomic subunit." Skin marking design was the most detailed step with 53 (80.3%) articles; muscular dissection and re-approximation were both described in 47 (71.2%). The least reported step was frenulum management with only 1 (1.5%) described. No articles reported all 14 intra-operative steps, and only 2 (3.0%) reported 13/14 steps.ConclusionsDespite substantial modifications in cleft lip surgery, there is a paucity of in-depth descriptions of the steps of repair. For trainees, this can be a barrier to gaining understanding of lip repair. As the appetite for cleft surgery education grows globally, consistency in terminology and accuracy in describing technical steps is crucial.

The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal
University of Southern California (US), Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (US), Operation PAR (US), Smile Train (US)
Quality Education
Openalex Percentile: Top 11%
Cleft Lip and Palate Research
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