A new operation for harelip / by Christian Fenger.

  • Christian Fenger
Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new operation for harelip / by Christian Fenger. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    that made in the operation for laceration of the perineum as proposed by Lawson Tait, and by him termed “flap-splitting.” As stated above, this possesses the advantage of not sacrificing any tissue of the parts already more or less de- fective ; on the other hand, repeated denudations made necessary by unsuccessful attempts at union would tend to make the lateral portions of the lip smaller and smaller. Furthermore, the linear incision, by loosening the everted pro- labium (which is readily converted into mucous membrane by the simple change of position into the oral cavity), furnishes so much tissue for the posterior surface of the lip that union of the prolabial borders is easy, even before any tension sutures have been applied. 2. The prolabial sutures should be accurately applied. Fine curved needles should be used, the sutures made of fine silk. Interrupted sutures should be employed, in sufficient number and at sufficient intervals to furnish exact union. These sutures close the wound against the mouth and make the wound, so to speak, cutaneous in- stead of visceral, and thereby prevent infection from the ever-present multitude of microbes in the mouth. I believe that this suture will prove to be a potent factor in securing uniform results by preventing suppuration and non-union of the wound. 3. The cosmetic results have been all I could desire. If a slight indentation at the line of union of the prolabium has existed immediately after the operation, it has generally disappeared after a few months, provided the lip has been made long enough at the time of the operation. 4. I think that this method is applicable in all cases, and should take the place of all the numer- ous older methods of operating.
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