Now at Rambam: New Technology for Nasal Correction in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate
For children with cleft lip and palate, treatment is a long and complex process. Now, Mectron's PIEZOSURGERY® technology, previously unavailable in Israel’s public health care system, offers a new option for nasal correction at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam).
Dr. Zach Sharony, a senior surgeon at Rambam's Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, has begun using advanced Piezo bone surgery technology to perform complex nasal procedures on pediatric patients with cleft lip and palate. This procedure improves the appearance of the nose and addresses breathing difficulties. The surgery combines an open approach with Piezo technology—a combination currently unavailable at any other public hospital in Israel.
In most children with cleft lip, the condition also affects the nose. It causes a deformity that persists throughout their development and often impairs breathing. Treatment for cleft lip and palate begins in infancy and continues through the end of adolescence. Surgeons perform nasal surgery around age 16, once facial development is complete.
The open approach involves internal incisions and a small external incision in the skin between the nostrils. The surgeon then lifts the nasal skin to expose the underlying cartilage and bones. This direct access allows the surgeon to reshape the structures and ensure symmetry.
The Piezotome replaces the traditional osteotome—a chisel-shaped instrument that surgeons have used for decades. The traditional technique relies on force, which can produce an unpredictable fracture line. The Piezotome allows greater surgical control, resulting in less bruising and swelling, fewer complications, and faster recovery. These benefits offer a significant advantage in complex and delicate nasal procedures.
Most cleft lip cases involve a deviated nasal septum that impairs breathing. During the nasal procedure, the surgeon also straightens the septum and reduces the size of the inferior turbinates. These structures inside the nose consist of bone covered by soft tissue that helps warm, humidify, and filter inhaled air. Reducing their size improves airflow.
At Rambam, a multidisciplinary team supports these patients. The team includes an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, an ear, nose, and throat specialist, an orthodontist, and a speech-language pathologist. The new technology expands the team’s options for improving both nasal appearance and breathing.
