• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.381-385
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• 2009

Objective : The objective of this study was to compare the surgical techniques for the correction of congenital cleft palate. Techniques and approaches : Four-hundred-sixity patients operated between 1993 and 2008 were included in this study. The collected data were age, sex, operating time, admission days, and complications. The comparison between techniques were done by independent t-test. Results: The majority (86.9 %) of patients were received the operation later than 1.5 years old. The distribution of each surgical technique was 43.8 % by Bardach palatoplasty, 11.9 % by Furlow palatoplasty, 1.8 % by Veau palatoplasty, and 42.4 % by the new technique developed by us. Postoperative complication such as wound dehiscence, formation of oro-nasal fistulas in the soft and hard palates were shown in 23.0 % of Bardach technique, 44.2 % of Furlow technique, and 37.5 % of Veau technique. However, only 5.4 % of patients were shown complications in our technique (P<0.001). The operation time was recorded 70 minutes under new technique while the others were 110 minutes (P<0.001). The clinical treatment at hospital was required 7.4 days for our technique and 11.3-15.5 days for the other methods. Conclusion : The surgical treatment of congenital cleft palate in Mongolia was conducted later than proper timing for surgery. As the results were indicated, our new technique should be considered for the correction of cleft palate in old aged patients.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.42
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• pp.8.1-8.5
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• 2020

Background: The cause of maxillary growth restriction in patients with cleft lip and palate remains controversial. While studies have investigated the effects surgical technique and timing have on maxillary growth, few focus on patients with isolated cleft palate (ICP). The purpose of this study was to determine the impact palate repair and its associated complications may have on maxillary growth. Methods: A retrospective chart review of ICP patients who underwent palatoplasty from 1962 to 1999 at Akron Children's Hospital was performed. Patient demographics, Veau type, age at primary repair, closure technique, presence of fistula or velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), number of palatal operations, maxillary hypoplasia (MH) frequency, and follow-up were recorded. Exclusion criteria included patients with cleft lip, submucous cleft, or syndromes. Results: Twenty-nine non-syndromic ICP patients were identified; 62% (n = 18) had Veau type 1 and 38% (n = 11) had Veau type 2. All patients underwent 2-flap or Furlow palatoplasty with mobilization of mucoperiosteal flaps. Vomerine flaps were used in all Veau 2 cleft palate closures. Palatoplasty was performed at a mean age of 19.9 ± 8.2 months. Average follow-up was 209 ± 66.5 months. The rate of VPI was 59% (n = 17) and the rate of oronasal fistula was 14% (n = 4). Conclusions: There was a low incidence of MH despite complications after initial palate closure. Our results seem to suggest that age at palate closure, type of cleft palate, and type of surgical technique may not be associated with MH. Additionally, subsequent procedures and complications after primary palatoplasty such as VPI and palatal fistula may not restrict maxillary growth.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2022

Background Cleft lip and cleft palate are the most frequent congenital craniofacial deformities, with an incidence of approximately 1 per 700 people. Postoperative palatal fistula is one of the most significant long-term complications. This study investigated the incidence of postoperative palatal fistula and its predictive factors based on 25 years of experience at our hospital. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 636 consecutive palatal repairs performed between January 1996 and October 2020 by a single surgeon. Data from patients' medical records regarding cleft palate repair were analyzed. The preoperative extent of the cleft was evaluated using the Veau classification system, and the cleft palate repair technique was chosen according to the extent of the cleft. SPSS version 25.0 was used for all statistical analyses, and exploratory univariate associations were investigated using the t-test. Results Fistulas occurred in 20 of the 636 patients; thus, the incidence of palatal fistula was 3.1%. The most common fistula location was the hard palate (9/20, 45%), followed by the junction of the hard and soft palate (6/20, 30%) and the soft palate (5/20, 25%). The cleft palate repair technique significantly predicted the incidence of palatal fistula following cleft palate repair (P=0.042). Fistula incidence was significantly higher in patients who underwent surgery using the Furlow double-opposing Z-plasty technique (12.1%) than in cases where the Busan modification (3.0%) or two-flap technique (2.0%) was used. Conclusions The overall incidence of palatal fistulas was 3.1% in this study. Moreover, the technique of cleft palate repair predicted fistula incidence.