THE LIP INDEX - AN ANTHROPOMETRIC TOOL TO EVALUATE OBJECTIVELY THE RESULT OF THE ABBE FLAP PROCEDURE

To evaluate objectively the outcome of the Abbe flap procedure, an ant hropometric ratio-the lip index-is introduced. The lip index is the ra tio of the labiale superius-tragion to the labiale inferius-tragion. I t represents the protrusion of the upper lip in relation to the lower lip. It has been assessed in preoperative and postoperative photograph s of 19 patients who underwent an Abbe flap procedure. The values were compared with the values found in noncleft patients. In all 19 patien ts, postoperative values were found to have normalized. This study ind icates that the lips are in better harmony postoperatively than they w ere preoperatively.