A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE LATERAL CRUS OF ALAR CARTILAGES IN UNILATERAL CLEFT-LIP NASAL DEFORMITY

To confirm whether or not the alar cartilage of the unilateral cleft l ip nose is primarily hypoplastic as compared with the noncleft side, 3 5 unilateral cleft lip nasal patients who had no previous nasal surger y underwent direct measurement of the lateral crus of alar cartilage o n both sides during their nasal tip plasties. Both lower lateral carti lages were dissected freely, and the thickness was measured at the int ercrural, middle, and distal portions. The width was measured at the w idest portion, and the length was measured from the intercrural point to the distal end. Two-mm-punch biopsies were obtained from each carti lage for histologic study. The lateral crus of the cleft side was no s maller than that of the noncleft side. Histologically, no difference w as ascertained. In conclusion, we think the lateral crus of the alar c artilage of the cleft side is not hypoplastic. Therefore, external fac tors such as soft-tissue defect or external abnormal vector force are more attributable than intrinsic factors to the development of cleft l ip nasal deformity.