Tongue flaps in repair of large palatal defects

Anteriorly based dorsal tongue flaps were used in 19 cleft patients for closing large palatal defects. The procedure was successful in 17 patients. One patient had partial marginal necrosis after division of the pedicle, while another had complete necrosis of the distal part of the flap. Our results support the view that for success of the procedure, adequate length, width and thickness of the flap are important, while the height of the palate also plays a role.