Secondary surgery techniques to optimise functional and aesthetic outcomes in orofacial clefting

Although the goal of primary surgery is to avoid the need for secondary surgery, in a proportion of patients this is not always possible. Secondary, or revisional, surgery is frequently undertaken in patients with orofacial clefts and may present a complex and challenging problem for the multidisciplinary team. There are a broad range of functional and aesthetic issues that secondary surgery might aim to address. These include palatal fistulae (that may be symptomatic for air, fluid or food), velopharyngeal insufficiency (typically manifesting with decreased intelligibility or nasal regurgitation), suboptimal cleft lip scars (that can significantly impact upon the psychosocial wellbeing of the patient), and nasal asymmetry (that is frequently accompanied by nasal airway concerns). Unilateral and bilateral clefts are each associated with a characteristic nasal deformity that requires a tailored surgical approach. Suboptimal maxillary growth in repaired orofacial clefts may impact negatively on both appearance and function; surgical correction through orthognathic surgery can be transformational for the patient. The general dental practitioner, cleft orthodontist and restorative dentist all play a critical role in this process.