Single surgeon's experience with Furlow palatoplasty and the fistula rate

Abstract

Objective: To review the clinical data on Furlow palatoplasty and the incidence of palatal fistula. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of clinical data and incidence of palatal fistula in all cleft palate patients undergoing Furlow palatoplasty by one surgeon in Princess Margaret Hospital from November 1997 to February 2003. Results: Of the 54 patients (29 male, 25 female) treated, five (9.3%) had positive family history of cleft lip/cleft palate. Twenty-two patients (40.7%) had associated cleft lip and four (7.4%) had other congenital malformations. Thirty-one palates were Veau classes I & II; 15 were class III, six were class IV, and two were submucous clefts. The mean ± SD patient age was 22.8 ± 11.9 months, and follow-up period 50.6 ± 17.5 months with five (9.3%) defaulted. Blood loss and operation time were significantly different among the different classes of clefts. There was one case of postoperative bleeding requiring immediate opening. Three palatal fistulae occurred, all within the first 3 years of the study period. Two were repaired with no recurrences. Conclusions: The surgeon's incidence of palatal fistula after Furlow palatoplasty is 5.6%, comparable to the low incidence reported by other surgeons using other methods of repair. © 2006 The Authors; Journal compilation © 2006 College of Surgeons of Hong Kong.