Closure of large oronasal fistulas at the time of secondary bone grafting in patients with cleft lip and palate

Abstract

Oronasal fistulas often arise after repair of the palate in patients with cleft lip and palate. Those located adjacent to the residual cleft are commonly closed at the time of secondary bone grafting. However, it is not easy to close larger fistulas. We present a method of closing large oronasal fistulas in the anterior palate that are adjacent to the residual cleft at the time of secondary bone grafting, which consists of reducing the size of the inferior nasal turbinate.

• oronasal fistula
• residual cleft
• cleft lip and palate
• secondary bone graft
• inferior turbinectomy
• vomer flap