[Repair of the severe cleft palate in patients over 10 years old by soft palate plasty combined with buccal musculomucosal flap].

[OBJECTIVE] To investigate the repair of the severe cleft palate in patients over 10 years old.

[METHODS] First, the horizontal palate of the palatine bone was broken and the greater palatine foramen was enlarged by chisel. Then the great palatine neurovascular bundle was released. The soft palate was pushed back and lifted as described by Pro. Ruyao Song. Finally, a buccal musculomucosal flap was transferred to repair the frontal wound after pushing back the soft palate.

[RESULTS] 13 patients aged 10 - 25 years old were treated by this method. All the flaps survived completely. Both the hard and soft palate were lengthened. Velopharyngeal incompetence was corrected very well and the pronunciation improved markedly.

[CONCLUSIONS] This method can close the severe cleft palate without tension and lengthen the soft palate. It can correct velopharyngeal incompetence very well and improve pronunciation dramatically. It is especially useful for severe cleft palate in older patients.