الفهرس 
Materials and MethodsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
One major complication after cleft lip repair is a hypertrophic scar which negatively affects patient’s appearance, psychology and function. Several techniques have been proposed to improve lip scar such as steroid injection, silica gel and laser therapy. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Botulinum Toxin type (A) injections in reducing lip scar following cleft lip repair. A randomized controlled clinical trial was performed on a total of 22 patients, eleven patients were injected with Botulinum Toxin type (A) in lip muscles preoperatively (Study group), and the other 11 patient performed the surgical treatment of cleft lip without Botulinum Toxin type (A) injection (Control group.) The sample was selected conveniently to fulfil a list of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Scars were assessed at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively regarding Vancouver Scar Scale, Visual Analogue Scale, scar width and lip height measurements. At 3 months and 6 months postoperatively, the study group showed significantly better results than control group (p ≤ 0.05.) Preoperative injection with Botulinum Toxin type (A) reduces tension across healing margins resulting in better esthetic outcome.
6.2 Conclusions
• This study concludes that inhibition of the perioral muscles by its injection with Botulinum toxin type (A) preoperatively reduces the tension across the healing wound edges.
• Decreased tension during the healing of upper lip results in better esthetic outcome regarding Vancouver Scar Scale and Visual Analogue Scale and a narrower cheiloplasty scar.
• Better healing, improves the differences in lip height measurements between cleft side and non-cleft side.
6.3 Recommendations
• Further studies are recommended using other parameters to be illustrative of the whole scar.
• A larger sample size with longer follow-ups is required.