[Repair of cleft palate by double reverse Z-plasty of the soft palate]

Since July 1987 till January 1989, The double reverse Z-plasty of the soft palate has been used in 12 patients. Seven patients had complete unilateral cleft palates, one had incomplete cleft, two had soft cleft palates and two had complete bilateral cleft palates. Male 7, female 5. The eldest was 25 years of age, the youngest was 3 years. The technique differs from the usual method in two ways. Firstly, the soft palate is closed with two reverse Z-plasties. The transposition of two flaps can be lengthened along central limb without using the tissue from the hard palate. Secondly, in order to eliminate the horseshoe limp scar around the inner aspect of the alveolus for improving the growth potential of the maxilla, the hard palate is closed without lateral relaxing incisions.