Objective: In wide palatal defects, closure of the nasal layer can prove a considerable challenge. Mobilizing nasal flaps posteriorly usually facilitates soft palate closure. However, the defect is often too wide within the hard palate; hence, bilateral vomerine flaps are frequently required. Despite this, there is often a small defect in the nasal layer at the posterior septum (typically equating to the hard-soft palate junction), which has to be left to heal by secondary intention with the resulting increased risk of fistula formation and the potential deleterious long-term effect on speech due to cicatricial migration of the reconstructed levator sling anteriorly. We describe our experience in the use of the sphenoid flap to obtain tension-free primary closure of the nasal layer.
Methods: A retrospective multi-center study assessing all sphenoid flap procedures undertaken at both Birmingham Children's Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital. Key demographic and medical data was collected pre-, peri-, and postoperatively across the 2 sites.
Results: A total of 66 patients underwent the use of a sphenoid flap to aid closure of the nasal layer. The average age at time of repair was 9.7 months. More than half (55%, n = 36) were isolated cleft palates, and 35% (n = 23) were BCLPs. Forty-two percent of all patients had Robin sequence. The average cleft width was 14.4 mm. The overall fistula rate was 25.8% (n = 17).
Conclusions: We describe the operative technique, indications, and our experience in the use of the sphenoid flap in wide cleft palate repair.