A management strategy for palatal fractures: a 12-year review.

Fractures of the palate are frequently associated with the more common and well-described Le Fort fractures. Palatal fractures may present diagnostic and exposure challenges and, if not satisfactorily treated, will result in occlusal problems after surgery. From 1986 through 1998, 116 complex maxillary fractures were treated at the authors' center. Among these, 13 patients were diagnosed with fracture of the palate. Patients with gunshot wounds to the face were excluded from the present study. Open reduction and internal fixation of the palatal fractures were achieved through elevation of the entire palatal mucoperiosteal flap to avoid late hardware exposure. This paper presents a unique approach to visualizing the whole bony palatal surface for accurate reduction and internal fixation of fractures.