Cleft Palate Surgery

What is Cleft Palate Surgery?

The repair of the cleft palate (also known as a palatoplasty) is usually done at six to eighteen months of age. Although the child may look normal from the outside, the cleft palate can be seen by looking for a separation in the roof of the child's mouth. A cleft palate should be repaired for several reasons, namely to improve speech and to reestablish the barrier between the mouth and the nasal cavity. Rarely, more than one operation may be necessary to close the cleft palate. The operation to repair the cleft palate involves making several incisions at the margins of the palate and sewing the separated portions of the palate back together in several layers; one layer making up the nasal lining, another middle layer containing the muscles of the palate, and still another layer that makes up the lining of the roof of the mouth.

What is an Alveolar Cleft Bone Graft?

A cleft defect can also involve the teeth and gums. A child with a cleft palate may need surgery after the initial cleft palate repair to replace missing bone in the gumline. The "alveolus" is the bony part of the gumline found in the region of the upper jaw and lower jaw that contain the teeth. The placement of bone to this area is referred to as "alveolar cleft bone grafting" (ACBG).

Surgical repair of the bony portion of the gumline most often requires ACBG. Bone is typically taken from the hip and placed in the area of the cleft in the gum. This bony repair of the cleft gumline enables the teeth which may not have erupted (or come up through the gums) a stable scaffold to erupt through. ACBG also adds support and improved contour to the base of the nose and provides structural support for a dental implant or bridge if needed to fill in missing teeth.

Preparing for Your Child's Surgery

You will be given a pre-operative information packet that explains everything you should do and know before your child's surgery date. Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications.

List of Physicians Who Perform Cleft Lip & Palate Surgery

For details about education, experience, and specialty in this clinical area, please visit these physician profile pages:

• Steven Buchman, M.D.
• Steven Kasten, M.D.

Click here for a partial list of hotels and other lodging in Ann Arbor that offer discounts for patient's families. To reach the Patient & Visitor Hotel Accomodations Program, call (800) 544-8684 or (734) 936-0135.

Mott Operating & Recovery Rooms

Your child's surgery will take place at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital which provides state-of-the-art, "child friendly" surgical suites and recovery areas. Visit the Mott Children's Hospital OR & Recovery Room page for a "virtual tour" of the operating and recovery areas, before, during, and after surgery information, frequently asked questions and answers for parents and children, and much more.

Types of Anesthesia

The cleft palate repair is done in the operating room under general anesthesia so that your child will sleep throughout the entire procedure. Anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists at Mott Children's Hospital are all trained and experienced in pediatric anesthesia and care for pediatric patients. Your child will remain comfortable throughout the entire procedure.

After Your Child's Surgery

It is very important that you follow your surgeon's instructions in order to promote healing and progress. Also, it is important that you attend all follow-up appointments scheduled so that your surgeon can assess your child's long-term results and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Read our cleft palate post-operative instructions.

Read our Alveolar Cleft Bone Graft post-operative instructions.