The single z-plasty for XXXX repair: a preliminary report.

@entity1 @entity2419 @entity292 @entity2701
Objective : To introduce a surgical technique for the repair of @entity2419 with the single and full-thickness Z-plasty method. @entity1 and Methods : The procedure was performed from 1999 to 2006 in 34 @entity1 with @entity2419 with a median age of 6.0  years (range, 2.0 to 21  years). In these @entity1 , in order to push the soft palate back farther, a single and full-thickness Z-plasty, designed on the soft palate across the defect, was applied to the von Langenbeck procedure. The full thickness of the soft palate was incised after the hard palate was closed by suturing the two mucoperiosteal flaps, and two Z-plasty flaps were formed. The two flaps were then transposed and closed by interrupted suturing of three layers of the palate in proper order, from nasal mucosa, levator muscle to oral mucosa. The @entity1 were followed for 6  months to 3  years, velopharyngeal closure was examined by nasopharyngeal fiberscope and/or x-ray radiography, and a clinical speech evaluation was performed. Results : In all @entity1 , no problem of flap viability was encountered and all healed well. The postoperative results were satisfactory without any complications such as dehiscence, perforation, or palatal @entity292 . The clinical speech evaluation was satisfactory, and the effects of the operation were stable. Conclusions : The technique presented has been effective, having the advantages of palatal closure without @entity2701 and with sufficient lengthening of the soft palate.
