ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SURGICAL METHODS IN THE TREATMENT OF CLEFT PALATE

Area of Science:

• Craniofacial anomalies
• Pediatric surgery
• Public health

Background:

• Cleft palate is a significant congenital craniofacial anomaly with increasing incidence globally.
• Effective surgical management (palatoplasty) is crucial for speech development and facial growth.
• Minimizing oronasal fistula and promoting harmonious facial growth are key goals of palatoplasty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of different palatoplasty techniques.
• Assess functional, anatomical, and aesthetic outcomes in pediatric cleft palate patients.
• Provide evidence-based insights for improved surgical strategies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of English-language publications (1980-2026).
• Comprehensive literature search across major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, etc.).
• Manual screening of reference lists and qualitative analysis of included studies.

Main Results:

• 47 studies were included; 26 underwent meta-analysis.
• High heterogeneity observed in meta-analyses for fistula incidence (I²=98.8%), hypernasality (I² not specified), and soft palate length (I²=96.9%).
• Pooled data showed no statistically significant differences for fistula incidence, hypernasality, or soft palate length due to high heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

• Functional outcomes in palatoplasty are primarily dictated by surgical reconstruction quality, muscle repositioning, tissue tension, and surgeon experience.
• The specific surgical technique employed appears to be a less critical factor.
• Emphasizes the importance of surgical skill and meticulous technique over procedural variations.