OBJECTIVETo evaluate a long-term effect on pronunciation and maxillary growth of elder patients with wide isolated cleft palate after bibuccinator myomucosal island flap palatoplasty.

METHODSTwelve patients over eight years old with wide isolated cleft palate were selected in experiment group, who received bibuccinator myomucosal island flap palatoplasty. The common group comprised 20 age-matched patients with isolated cleft palate receiving traditional palatoplasty named double-flap method. Simultaneously, 30 randomly selected age-matched noncleft children were included in control group. Both preoperative and postoperative effects over five years on pronunciation and maxillary growth were evaluated using professional, clinical pronunciation system and cephalometric measurement between former two groups. The data of former two groups were compared with control group statistically.

RESULTSThe incisions of all patients in experiment group healed perfectly. After 5-years' follow-up, the patients' mouths opening were normal, no secondary hole on the palate, the flap tissue was softer and more colorful than palate mucosa. The long-term pronunciation effects of patients in experiment group were significantly better than that of preoperation (P < 0.05) and the common group (P < 0.05). The status of maxillary growth of patients in experiment group excelled that in common group significantly (P < 0.05), but no significant difference contrast to that in the control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBibuccinator myomucosal island flap palatoplasty is a good operative method for elder patients with wide isolated cleft palate to improve their pronunciation and decrease the affect on maxillary growth.