Elongated pharyngeal flap in extensive clefts of the hard and soft palate

In some cases of extensive palatal defects surgical closure may be regarded as unfeasible, and the condition treated with an obturator prosthesis. In such a case the cleft can be closed in one operation by means of a pharyngeal flap elongated through a pharyngotomy according to Bengt Johanson (1966). Eleven patients who had used obturators were operated on between 1957 and 1978. The mean age of the patients was 39 years. All patients were cleft lip and palate or cleft palate cases; two unilateral, five bilateral, and four with an isolated cleft palate. In most of these patients a temporary tracheostomy was performed after which the pharynx was opened through a neck incision. A flap was created which reached the alveolar ridge. For oral closure, mucoperiosteal flaps were used. Anterior palatal fistulas developed in two cases; one closed spontaneously and the other remained as a 3-mm fistula behind the alveolar ridge. Three patients had postoperative transient dysphagia. Phoniatric evaluation showed that two patients had better speech after operation than before with an obturator. Gross speech improvement at this late age should not be expected and is not the primary goal of the procedure. The aim of surgical closure with an elongated pharyngeal flap is to replace the obturator.