Treatment modalities for closure of palatal fistulae

Abstract

Background: Surgical correction of a cleft palate provides a myriad of problems to the operating surgeon. The aim to achieve this closure and to restore normal velar function is hampered by a palatal fistula. The repair of a palatal fistula in the cleft palate patient presents a new challenge and various techniques for their correction have been proposed. Local transposition flaps may be successful, but repeated failure can occur due to the thick and immobile scarred palatal mucoperiosteum. A variety of both surgical and prosthetic solution to the problem of inadequate local tissue has been sought.