Modified Furlow Palatoplasty Using Small Double-Opposing Z-Plasty: Surgical Technique and Outcome

Background: A smaller Z-plasty is applied in a modified Furlow palatoplasty. The purpose of this study was to assess its surgical and functional outcome. Methods: The surgical technique included mucoperiosteal flap elevation in the hard palate, complete pedicle dissection and release, double-opposing Z-plasty using 5-mm limbs and muscle dissection in the soft palate, and the buccal fat pad covering lateral relaxing wounds. A retrospective chart review was conducted for 231 consecutive nonsyndromic patients undergoing modified palatoplasty from May of 2007 to December of 2014. The demographic, postoperative, and follow-up data were collected. Statistical analyses were performed. Results: Average age at palatoplasty was 8.3 months. The overall oronasal fistula rate was 0.4 percent; oronasal fistula occurred in only one case with bilateral cleft. Other complications included postoperative bleeding in two cases (0.8 percent), postoperative airway obstruction in one case (0.4 percent), obstructive sleep apnea in one case (0.4 percent), stitch abscess in one case (0.4 percent), and distal uvula dehiscence in two cases (0.8 percent). One hundred twenty-seven patients had full speech evaluation, and seven (5.5 percent) were diagnosed with velopharyngeal insufficiency requiring surgical correction. Conclusion: This modified palatoplasty using a small double-opposing Z-plasty provided adequate cleft palate closure, with a low fistula rate and satisfactory speech outcome.