A bilateral musculomucosal buccal flap method for cleft palate surgery.
OBJECTIVE
This article introduces a new technique for the repair of cleft palate with a bilateral musculomucosal buccal flap.


METHODS
From 1990 to 2001, 26 patients with cleft palate of different types were treated for the repair of cleft palate with the bilateral musculomucosal buccal flaps. Their age ranged from 3 to 12 years (mean age, 6.4 years). They were followed up from 2 to 8 years. The velopharyngeal closure was examined by nasopharyngoscopy.


RESULTS
The postoperative results of all the patients who could be followed up were clearly satisfactory without any postoperative complications such as dehiscence or perforation or maxillary deformity. The velopharyngeal closure was satisfactory.


CONCLUSIONS
Repair of cleft palate with bilateral musculomucosal buccal flaps is a very useful method for repairing cleft palate and possibly reduces postoperative complications of dehiscence, perforation, and growth retardation.
Chen
Guan-fu
GF
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Zhong
Lai-ping
LP
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000637:transplantation*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000637:transplantation; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome