[Cleft palate and inflammatory diseases of the middle ear]

Based on a series of 57 children who were operated for velar clefts, the authors studied the different associated aspects of middle ear inflammatory pathology: physiopathology, occurrence, evolution, complications. Seromucous otitis was initially found in 87% of the cases. Three years after surgery, it persisted in 70% of the cases. These children should be monitored on a long-term basis for timely detection of any and all evolution towards chronic otitis or even cholesteatomas.