Primary W-Plasty Closure for Surgical Repair of the Injured Lip

Abstract

Purpose: 

To describe the results obtained using the primary W-plasty closure technique for the surgical repair of lip defects of traumatic etiology.

Patients and Methods: 

This study followed both the Declaration of Helsinki on medical protocol and ethics and the Ethical Guidelines of Hospital San Francisco de Asis institutional review board. A retrospective case series study was designed and implemented. The medical status, demographic, etiology, complications, and outcomes associated to the primary W-plasty technique in patients with lip injuries seen at Hospital San Francisco de Asis Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department in Quibdó, Colombia between 2010 and 2013 were assessed. Data were collected and analyzed using a statistic package.

Results: 

Eighteen patients were treated, 8 women and 10 men, with ages ranging from 2 to 38 years. Patients presented lip avulsion injuries associated to different etiologies. They underwent surgery under general anesthesia after prophylactic antibiotic therapy and tetanus booster vaccination. Defect repair was performed using the primary W-plasty closure technique, obtaining satisfactory esthetic and functional results.

Conclusions: 

Primary W-plasty closure is a surgical option that allows the safe and practical restoration of the injured lip, even in lesions exceeding 50% of the normal lip.