Primary Palate Surgery Research Articles

The maxillary periosteal flap in primary palate surgery.

Clefts of the primary palate have been closed in infants by the utilization of a large anterolateral maxillary periosteal flap to form a periosteum‐lined cavity with the inferior aspect of the nasal floor. The results in 12 cases with Wide unilateral and bilateral clefts revealed deposition of bone in the primary cleft within six months, and this increased with time. Good alignment of the alveolar arch was achieved in all cases. Further bone deposition followed subperiosteal implantation of “Surgicel” at the age of one year in four cases, with lessening also of the ala base asymmetry. No interference with maxillary growth has been observed. The full assessment of this type of primary palate closure requires some years of observation, but the present results are promising.