Background: Submucous cleft palate (SMCP) requires surgical repair if symptomatic. The Furlow double-opposing Z-plasty is the preferred method in Helsinki cleft center.
Aims: To assess the efficacy and complications of Furlow Z-plasty in the treatment of symptomatic SMCP.
Methods: This retrospective study reviewed documentation of 40 consecutive patients with symptomatic SMCP who underwent primary Furlow Z-plasty by 2 high-volume cleft surgeons at a single center between 2008 and 2017. Patients underwent perceptual and instrumental evaluation of velopharyngeal function (VPF) by speech pathologists preoperatively and postoperatively.
Results: The median age at Furlow Z-plasty was 4.8 years (SD 2.6, range 3.1-13.6). The overall success rate, including postoperative competent or borderline competent VPF, was 83%, and 10% required secondary surgery for residual velopharyngeal insufficiency. The success rate was 85% in nonsyndromic, and 67% in syndromic patients with no significant difference ( P =0.279). Complications arose in only 2 (5%) patients. No children were found to have obstructive sleep apnea postoperatively.
Conclusion: Furlow primary Z-plasty is a safe and effective operation for symptomatic SMCP with a success rate of 83% with only 5% rate of complications.
Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of Mutaz B. Habal, MD.