title: Two-stage palatoplasty using a modified Furlow procedure.
abstract: A two-stage palatal repair using a modification of Furlow palatoplasty is presented. The authors investigate the speech outcome, fistula formation and maxillary growth. In a prospective, successive cohort study, 40 nonsyndromic patients with wide cleft palate were operated on between March 2001 and June 2006 by a single surgeon. 10 patients in the first cohort underwent a Furlow palatoplasty (control group). In 30 patients in the second cohort a unilateral myomucosal cheek flap was used in combination with a modified Furlow palatoplasty (study group). The hard palate was closed in both groups 9-12 months later. The Bzoch speech quality score was superior in the study group, and the hypernasality was significantly reduced in the study group. Overall fistula formation was 0%. At the time of hard palate reconstruction palatal cleft width was significantly reduced. Relative short-term follow up of maxillary growth was excellent. There were no postoperative haematomas, infections, or episodes of airway obstruction. This technique is particularly encouraging, because of better speech outcome, absence of raw surfaces on the soft palate, no fistula formation, and good maxillary growth. Further follow-up is necessary to determine the long-term effects on facial development.
authors: OMFS, University Hospital Antwerp (UA), Belgium. nasser@nadjmi.com
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Nadjmi
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Van Erum
authors: M
authors: M
authors: De Bodt
authors: E M
authors: EM
authors: Bronkhorst
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000254:growth & development; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000637:transplantation; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000637:transplantation; D016155:Oral Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D010156:Palatal Muscles / Q000637:transplantation; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013065:Speech Intelligibility / Q000502:physiology; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000637:transplantation; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology; D060053:Transplant Donor Site / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome