Palatal Fistula Repair : Methods and Results

Abstract

Thirty-seven patients of the palatal fistula after primary palatoplasty were reviewed, with special reference to the methods used to repair, their results and the effect on speech. The operative procedures used include local mucoperiosteal flap, mucosal flap, tongue flap and free mucosal graft, which were selected according to size, location and local condition of the fistula. If possible, it is better to select the operative procedure that will disturb neither the maxillar development nor orthodontic treatment. As for speech, closure of the fistula seems to be an important trigger for the improvement in the intelligibility of the speech.