Successful management of an unusual hypopigmented scar after surgical repair of a unilateral Tessier 7 cleft.

Abstract

Tessier No. 7 cleft is the most common atypical craniofacial cleft with an incidence of 1:3000-5642 births. This clinical report describes the successful management of a delayed, unusually hypopigmented postoperative facial scar following the surgical closure of a Tessier 7 cleft using the Pfeiffer wave line incision. In the absence of any other associated systemic lesions, the scar was treated as a localized leucoderma. The scar coloration improved dramatically with the chosen line of conservative medical treatment, and a surgical revision was not required. This report highlights the need for continuous follow up despite seemingly good short-term results. The medical management of the hypopigmented scar will aid fellow practitioners who may face similar dilemmas.