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This study aimed to restore upper lip symmetry and minimize tissue sacrifice using a curved line design and wire technique and analyze the postoperative outcomes. In this retrospective study, medical records of patients with complete unilateral cleft lip who underwent unilateral cheiloplasty between August 2017 and February 2019 were reviewed. The postoperative clinical photos were analyzed to determine vertical, diagonal philtral heights and the horizontal lengths of the upper lip. The average of the cleft side to non-cleft side length ratios were compared between the curved line group and conventional group. At 3, 6, and 12 months, the average vertical length ratios were significantly greater in the curved line group than in the conventional group (0.927–0.823, p = 0.007; 0.940 to 0.885, p = 0.037; and 0.947 to 0.883, p = 0.040, respectively), but the average horizontal length ratios were not significantly different between the two groups. Within the limitations of the study it seems that curved line cheiloplasty aids in preventing short lip deformity development at regular term without significantly sacrificing the horizontal length and, therefore, should be adopted whenever appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background Venous super-drainage can improve flap survival not only because it prevents congestion, but also because it affects the dominant circulation in multi-territory thin skin flaps. We aimed to evaluate the survival of various flap areas and detect vascular changes in artery-based, four-territory skin flaps after different distal venous drainage procedures. Methods 4 x 12 cm sized flaps were elevated based only on the deep circumflex iliac artery. Fifty rats were divided into five groups, as follows: group 1, flaps drained with the deep circumflex iliac vein; group 2, flaps drained with the ipsilateral superficial inferior epigastric vein; group 3, flaps drained with the contralateral superficial inferior epigastric vein; group 4, flaps drained with the contralateral deep circumflex iliac vein; and group 5, flaps super-drained with the contralateral deep circumflex iliac vein. On the fourth postoperative day, the survival of the flaps was assessed by measuring the necrotic and surviving areas, and vascular changes were evaluated angiographically. Results Compared to flaps with only arterial-based pedicles, most flaps with distant drainage showed significantly greater survival. The flap survival area percentages were 37.82 ± 5.01%, 49.23 ± 10.47%, 68.22 ± 9.24%, 83.90 ± 12.03%, and 89.17 ± 10.42% for groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Furthermore, distal vein drainage above the ventral midline resulted in significantly better flap survival. Super-drainage and drainage via the most distal vein resulted in similar flap survival. Conclusions Distal vein drainage is effective for increasing survival in artery-based flaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]