Palatal Fistula Gregory D. Pearson DEFINITION A fistula is defined as an epithelialized tract between two cavities that are not meant to be communicating. A palatal fistula is an abnormal…

Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Jennifer L. McGrath Arun K. Gosain DEFINITION Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) refers to a structural inadequacy of the velopharyngeal apparatus, resulting in inadequate closure of the velopharyngeal port during…

Sommerlad Palatoplasty T. Guy Thorburn DEFINITION Cleft palate repairs can be broadly classified into straightline repairs (such as the Sommerlad technique) vs Z-plasty repairs (such as the Furlow technique). Otto…

Secondary Deformities Catharine B. Garland Jesse Goldstein Joseph E. Losee DEFINITION After cleft lip and nose reconstruction, secondary deformities of the lip and nose are common. The actual incidence of…

Tongue-Lip Adhesion/Floor of Mouth Muscle Release for Pierre Robin Sequence Chad A. Purnell Arun K. Gosain DEFINITION Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) is a clinical triad of glossoptosis, retrognathia, and airway…

Two-Flap Palatoplasty David K. Chong Kathryn V. Isaac Kenneth E. Salyer DEFINITION Cleft palate is the failure of fusion of the palatal shelves during embryological development. Cleft palate may occur…

Furlow Palatoplasty T. Guy Thorburn DEFINITION Furlow Palatoplasty is widely used technique for repair of either cleft palate (CP) or submucous cleft palate (SMCP). It can also be used in…

von Langenbeck Palatoplasty Kathryn V. Isaac David K. Chong DEFINITION Cleft palate is the failure of fusion of the palatal shelves during embryological development. There are many surgical techniques used…

Bilateral Cleft Lip Repair John A. van Aalst DEFINITION A cleft of the lip occurs when the maxillary prominence fails to fuse, first with the lateral nasal prominence and then…

Delayed Hard Palate Repair in UCLP Patients Jan Lilja DEFINITION In UCLP patients, the cleft palate will lead to speech difficulties. Poor ventilation of the Eustachian tubes results in a…