[Today's status of facial cleft surgery (author's transl)]

Cleft lips, jaws and palates numerically represent the major part of facial clefts. These abnormalities are evolutionary and they are characterized by a continually recurring anatomic pattern. The necessity of reconditioning form and function implies the application of surgical therapy. Regarding the one-sided closure or suturing of cleft lips, priority is nowadays given to the angular-type incisions, whereas the linear-type incision is still reserved for the double-sided cheiloschisis. In the following, there will be indicated the approved techniques and methods of suturing the cleft palate and a new method will be discussed related to the reciprocal Z-type plastic operation. In the case of speech-improving operations, excellent results can be achieved by implanting autologous costal cartilages into the posterior wall of the pharynx. Apart from a brief mutioning of transverse and diagonal facial clefts, the provision of nasal clefts with composite grafts is finally recommented.