[Anatomy of the naso-labial muscles and the mesethmoid in labiomaxillary cleft. A new surgical approach of cheiloplasty].

The authors analyse the role of the ectomesenchyme in facial organogenesis, and the biology of fetal and infant cephalic development, supply valid arguments for the application of new principles in cheiloplasty for labial or labiomaxillary clefts. Instead of dermatoplasty alone, the procedure involves anatomically selective muscle reconstruction of the nasolabial confines, a structure that is predominantly muscular. Cheilomesethmoidoplasty of the transverse and nasolabial muscles of the orbicularis of the upper lip is therefore a totally valid procedure. This procedure has applied by the authors in 36 cases.