The Recurrence Rate in Patients with Cleft Palate Utilizing Acellular Dermal Matrix (AlloDerm) Graft

Management of cleft palate problems have been improved during last 2 decades. The purpose of palatoplasty is decrease in complications such as palatal fistula. The incidence of cleft palate fistula after palatoplasty reported widely between 0 to more than 76%. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of closure of hard palatal fistula using acellular dermal matrix (AlloDerm) graft.
This cross-sectional study was done during 2015 to 2016 in referral Alzahra hospital in Isfahan, Iran. Patients who had a secondary fistula in any ages referred to cleft palate clinic and signed a consent form to be operated with this method were included. Postoperative recurrence in closed fistula was checked with follow-up appointments at 6 months for all cases.
Findings: Of 30 patients (12 men and 18 women) participated in this study, recurrence of hard palatal fistula was seen in 4 patients.
Closure of cleft palate fistula using acellular dermal matrix is a useful method with high success rate.