Comparison of palatal sensitivity after treatment of cleft palate by a supraperiosteal or mucoperiosteal flap.

We compared palatal sensitivity after push-back palatoplasty in patients operated on with a conventional mucoperiosteal flap and with a supraperiosteal flap. We studied 37 patients, whose mean age was 18 years (range 11-28), with unilateral cleft lip, alveolus, and palate who required palatoplasty at our clinic; 18 patients had a supraperiosteal, and 19 a mucoperiosteal flap. Thresholds of palatal sensitivity were measured with Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. The mean values of thresholds of palatal sensitivity in patients who had a push-back palatoplasty were higher than those in a normal control group. The mean values for patients who had a supraperiosteal flap were significantly lower than those who had a mucoperiosteal flap.