Prospective evaluation of the effect of early nasal layer closure on definitive repair in cleft palate patients

INTRODUCTION: The cleft palate is one of the most common congenital anomalies treated by plastic surgeons. The cleft width increases the tension of repair and necessitates excessive dissection that might affect maxillary growth. Decreasing the width of cleft minimize tension, dissection and may limit the impact on maxillary growth. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of nasal layer closure of the hard palate at the time of cleft lip repair in patients with complete cleft lip and palate, to demonstrate the efficacy of narrowing the gap and to reduce the incidence of fistulae or other complications. METHODS: Thirty patients less than 1 year of age were included in this prospective observational study. A superiorly based vomer flap was used to repair the nasal layer of the cleft hard palate at the time of primary cleft lip repair. 12–14 weeks after the vomer flap, the cleft soft and hard palate was definitively repaired. Alveolar and palatal gaps were recorded during the 1st and 2nd operations to demonstrate the reduction of the gap defect. RESULTS: The mean reduction of the alveolar cleft width in patients who had a vomer flap in the first stage was 4.067 mm and the mean reduction of the palatal gap was 4.517 mm. Only 3 patients developed small fistula on the repaired nasal layer that was discovered and corrected during definitive palatoplasty. CONCLUSION: Nasal layer closure is a simple surgical technique that can be used to close the hard palate at the time of cleft lip repair. It is a valuable addition to cleft lip and palate repair that may prevent some cleft palate surgical complications.