Treatment modalities for surgical management of anterior palatal fistula: Comparison of various techniques, their outcomes, and the factors governing treatment plan: A retrospective study

Abstract

Management of post palatoplasty fistulas of the hard palate presents a challenging situation for a clinician following the surgical correction of cleft palate. Current paper describes the diagnosis and clinical management of forty cases reporting with unilateral APF following cleft palate surgery, over 3 years. Authors have attempted to propose different treatment modalities for surgical management of unilateral APF. It was concluded in the primary review that the size of fistula was irrelevant in determining the clinical outcome. Instead, the quality and condition of the adjacent tissue appear to be the major governing factors for selecting treatment modality as well as the surgical consequences.