Early cleft palate repair completed before the age of 16 weeks: observations on a personal series of 100 children

Abstract

This paper is a review of a series of 100 children on whom the author carried out a cleft palate repair at or before they reached the age of 16 weeks. These children had tympanometry tests done before and after surgery. In the case of clefts of the primary and secondary palate, dental casts were taken. The author's personal technique of cleft palate repair is presented. Some of the early results are discussed along with thoughts on the effects on jaw development, speech and hearing of such early surgery.