title: The sliding sulcus procedure: simultaneous repair of unilateral clefts of the lip and primary palate--a new technique.
abstract: During embryogenesis the clefting event unleashes a series of processes that act in concert to deform the soft tissue envelope into a "dysfunctional matrix" within which bone and cartilage subsequently form. Much of secondary cleft deformity results from failure to solve this pathologic soft tissue-bone equation at the primary repair. The sliding sulcus procedure uses the subperiosteal plane to create a centralization of the soft tissue matrix, alleviate tension, and redistribute the forces of growth in a more normal pattern. By incising at the level of the alveolus, this approach preserves the blood supply to the osteogenic cells of the buccolabial periosteum. This approach has interesting theoretical implications for the preservation of alveolar growth potential. Arch stabilization and elimination of fistula may be of long-term benefit to the orthodontist.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital Oakland, CA 94609, USA.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Carstens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000601:surgery; D000543:Alveoloplasty / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010521:Periosteum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps