편측성 구순구개열 환자에 있어 구순성형술과 동반한 서골피판법

Simultaneous Repair of Unilateral Cleft Lip and Hard Palate with Vomer Flap

Vomer flap is used to repair anterior hard palate in complete cleft lip and palate patients. As the midline structure located in between the two cleft segments of hard palate, the vomer flap is very useful because of its vicinity to cleft site and their ease of execution when it is done with primary cheiloplasty simultaneously. In addition, the quality of tissue is very similar to that of the nasal mucosa with good vascularity. In cases of simultaneous repair of cleft lip with anterior palate using vomer flap, the hard palate can be repaired at the same time with primary cheiloplasty which is earlier period than other techniques. With simultaneous close of cleft lip and cleft hard palate by vomer flap, subsequent palatoplasty does not require wide dissection, and consequently chance of oronasal fistula formation will be minimized. Additionally, surgical time will be reduced and, the harmful effects on mid-facial growth will be diminished. In this article, we will introduce the comprehensive vomer flap technique with primary lip closure and review the comparative studies of the outcome of simultaneous repair of cleft lip and cleft hard palate with vomer flap.