The Skoog Lip Repair for Unilateral Cleft Lip Deformity – the Uppsala Experience

Background: Uppsala Craniofacial Center has been treating patients with unilateral cleft lip deformity using the lip repair technique described by Tord Skoog. The aim of this study was to determine complications after lip surgery and the incidence and indications for lip revisions in all patients born with unilateral cleft lip 1960-2004. Methods: All patients who were born 1960-2004 with unilateral cleft lip, cleft lip and alveolus, or cleft lip and palate and underwent lip repair were retrospectively studied. The timing, indication, complications of the primary procedure, and type of secondary surgery were recorded. Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher's exact tests were used, with Bonferroni correction. Results: The study included 443 patients. The total rate of early surgical complications was 6% (n=26). Secondary surgery for short upper lip was performed in 3.8% (n=17); 8.4% (n=37) had reduction of excess vermillion, 8.6% (n=38) underwent scar revision, incongruent vermillion–cutaneous border in 11% (n=51) and other indications in 10 % (n=45). Altogether, 45% had no secondary revisions. Conclusions: In conclusion the Skoog lip repair is associated with a low total revision rate and a short lip deformity is rare. Financial disclosure and products page: Alberto Falk-Delgado has a research residency funded by Uppsala University Hospital. We report no conflicts of interest. Corresponding author: Alberto.falk-delgado@surgsci.uu.se, Department of Surgical Sciences, Plastic Surgery, Uppsala University, Ing. 78/79, Akademiska Sjukhuset, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden, Phone: +46 186110000 ©2018American Society of Plastic Surgeons