Experience in cleft palate repairr by furlow technique

Abstract EN

Objective: To evaluate the authors’ experience with Furlow palatoplasty and its effectiveness in restoring the continuity and lengthening of cleft palate.

Methods: The study was conducted in Plastic Surgery Unit, Mosul teaching hospital during the period from September 1997 till August 1998.

Eighteen patients with cleft palate were surgically treated by Furlow techinque.

They included 8 males and 10 females with age range between 1 to 12 years.

Results: The study revealed that the lengthening of palate achieved ranged from 0.6-1.4 cm (mean 0.9 cm).

Furlow technique was used in patients with cleft soft palate, with or without hard palate cleft.

Postoperative complications seen in three patients, included bleeding with partial necrosis of flap and fistula.

Conclusions: The technique is fairly easy, but demands careful dissection.

It is highly indicated in cases of soft palate as it achieved palatal lengthening without tissue dissection from the hard palate.