title: Prevalence, cause, and location of palatal fistula in operated complete unilateral cleft lip and palate: retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of fistulas after palate repair and analyze their location and association with possible causal factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of patient records and evaluation of preoperative initial photographs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary craniofacial center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred eighty-nine individuals with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate that underwent palate repair at the age of 12 to 36 months by the von Langenbeck technique, in a single stage, by the plastic surgery team of the hospital, from January 2003 to July 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cleft width was visually classified by a single examiner as narrow, regular, or wide. The following regions of the palate were considered for the location: anterior, medium, transition (between hard and soft palate), and soft palate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive statistics and analysis of association between the occurrence of fistula and the different parameters were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Palatal fistulas were observed in 27% of the sample, with a greater proportion at the anterior region (37.11%). The chi-square statistical test revealed statistically significant association (P ≤ .05) between the fistulas and initial cleft width (P = .0003), intraoperative problems (P = .0037), and postoperative problems (P = .00002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of palatal fistula was similar to mean values reported in the literature. Analysis of causal factors showed a positive association between palatal fistulas with wide and regular initial cleft width and intraoperative and postoperative problems. The anterior region presented the greatest occurrence of fistulas.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Agostino Biella Passos
authors.forename: Cleide Felício
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: de Carvalho Carrara
authors.forename: Gisele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: da Silva Dalben
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Marcia Ribeiro
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gomide
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016155:Oral Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D010159:Palate / Q000473:pathology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors