The use of acellular dermal matrix in palatoplasty to decrease the rate of postoperative oronasal fistula.

Abstract

Different cleft palate repair techniques have been described to achieve optimum results and minimise complications. Postoperative fistulae are one of the most challenging complications after palate repair. In this clinical study, we reviewed the records of patients who underwent palatoplasty using acellular dermal matrix (ADM) as an addition to facilitate difficult cleft palate and palatal fistula closure. It was a retrospective, comparative, single-centre study, in which records of patients who underwent cleft palate surgeries between 2015 and 2018 were reviewed. Patients who underwent cleft palate or palatal fistula repair with and without ADM were included. Fischer's exact test was used to compare the two groups (primary cleft palate repair with and without ADM) in relation to the rate of fistula occurrence postoperatively. Charts of a total of 31 patients were reviewed. ADM was used in 13 patients; 8(61.5%) were primary repairs and 5(38.5%) were fistula repairs. Eighteen patients were repaired without ADM, of whom 16(88.9%) were primary cleft palate repairs and 2(11.1%) were fistula repairs. The statistical analysis showed no significant difference in fistula formation rate or recurrence in both the groups. ADM is a simple, safe, and helpful tool for augmenting cleft palate repair, mainly in relatively wide and high-tension cleft palate repairs. In our study, a trend showing decreased complications with ADM was observed. Therefore, we recommend a multi-centre study with a larger sample to assess the significance of ADM in cleft palate and palatal fistulae repair.