Acellular dermal graft augmentation of primary palatoplasty: case report and review of the literature

Outcome of Nasal Layer Reinforcement With Autologous Dermis in Cleft Palate Repair on Postoperative Fistula Formation

Palatal fistulae are challenging complications following cleft palate repair. The addition of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) to cleft palate repair has been shown to reduce fistula formation in previous studies. The use of autologous dermal graft has all the structural advantages of ADM, has less rejection and immunogenic potential, and is cost effective.

A prospective study.

Patients with Group II and III cleft palate (Nagpur Classification) without prior intervention for palatal repair in the Department of Plastic Surgery at PGIMER from January 2020 till June 2021.

The addition of autologous dermal graft for palatoplasty.

Outcome of the study was fistula development or exposure of dermal graft.

Autologous dermal graft was harvested of average dimension of 8.73 cm2 (range 5.25-18 cm2) from groin region. Sixteen patients were included in the study. Among them, 2 patients (12.5%) developed postoperative fistula (Type III &V Pittsburgh Classification).

Our study showed that the rates of postoperative fistula formation are comparable with prior literature using artificial dermal matrices.

The Progress of Decellularized Scaffold in Stomatology

The oral and maxillofacial region contains oral organs and facial soft tissues. Due to the complexity of the structures and functions of this region, the repair of related defects is complicated. Different degrees of defects require different repair methods, which involve a great combination of medicine and art, and the material requirements are extremely high. Hence, clinicians are plagued by contemporary oral repair materials due to the limitations of bone harvesting, immune rejection, low osteogenic activity and other problems. Decellularized extracellular matrix has attracted much attention as a bioactive scaffold material because of its nonimmunogenic properties, good osteogenic properties, slow release of growth factors, promotion of seed cell adhesion and maintenance of stem cell characteristics. This article reviews the sources, preparation methods, application and research progress of extracellular matrix materials in the repair of oral and maxillofacial defects to provide an overview for fundamental research and clinical development.

Effect of antibiotic pack on hard palate after fistula closure on nasal airflow and reoccurrence rate

This parallel blocked randomized controlled trial was done in two groups of 30 patients each to determine if placement of an antibiotic oral pack on the hard palate after hard palatal fistula repair reduces nasal air emission and fistula re-occurrence. Group A had an oral pack on the hard palate for 5 days post-operatively while group B did not. In group A, percentage of nasal air emission was tested using nasometry with and without pack. Paired t-tests were performed to compare nasal emissions for patients with and without pack. Recurrence of fistulas after 6 months between group A and B was tested using odds ratio. Effect of nasal air emission on fistula rates was tested using paired t-tests. There was a significant increase (p < 0.0001) in nasal emission after removal of the pack in group A. Fistula re-occurrence tended to be higher in group B (no pack) than group A but this was not significant (p = 0.242). There was no correlation between nasal air emission and fistula rates. In patients with recurrent fistulae, placement of an oral pack after fistula repair diminishes nasal air emission. Whether this has an impact on re-occurrence of fistulae needs to be investigated further.

The Use of Acellular Dermal Matrix in Combination With Pedicled Buccal Fat Pad in Wide Cleft Palate Repair: A Case Report and Literature Review

We describe a case of the combined use of acellular dermal matrix and pedicled buccal fat pad (BFP) in a wide U-shaped cleft palate repair. Acellular dermal matrix was used as a "patch" repair for the nasal mucosa defect as opposed to the conventional inlay graft. The advantages include reduced cost and a smaller avascular graft load. Lateral relaxing incisions were made to ensure tension-free closure of oromucosa at midline. Lateral oromucosa defect closure with well-vascularized pedicled BFP ensures enhanced healing, less palatal contracture and shortening, and reduced infection. The palate healed with mucosalization at 2 weeks, and no complications were noted at 6 months follow-up.

Placement of an antibiotic oral pack on the hard palate after primary cleft palatoplasty: a randomized controlled trial into the effect on fistula rates

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to determine whether placement of an antibiotic oral pack on the hard palate reduces fistula rates after primary cleft palatoplasty.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This study was a parallel blocked randomized controlled trial. The study consisted of two groups of 100 patients each with non-syndromic unilateral complete cleft lip, alveolus, and hard and soft palate that underwent primary palatoplasty. Group A had an oral pack placed on the hard palate for 5 days postoperatively while group B did not. Occurrence of fistulae between both groups was tested using odds ratios (OR).

RESULTS

In 2% of the patients in group A, a fistula was found 6 months after palatal surgery. In contrast, in 21% of the patients in group B, a palatal fistula could be confirmed. The fistula occurrence in group A was statistically significantly lower than that in group B (OR = 0.0768, CI = [0.02 … 0.34], p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study provide evidence that the rate of fistula formation after primary palatoplasty is significantly reduced if a pack soaked with antibiotic cream is placed on the palate postoperatively for 5 days.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The use of an antibiotic pack after cleft palate repair can be recommended to prevent occurrence of oronasal fistulae.

Repair of Primary Cleft Palate and Oronasal Fistula With Acellular Dermal Matrix: A Systematic Review and Surgeon Survey

OBJECTIVE

The current review and survey aim to assess the effectiveness of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in the repair of cleft palate and oronasal fistula and to evaluate the current trends of ADM use in palate surgery.

DESIGN

A systematic review of English articles was conducted using MEDLINE (1960 to July 1, 2016), the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (1960 to July 1, 2016), and EMBASE (1991 to July 1, 2016). Additional studies were identified through a review of references cited in initially identified articles. Search terms included "cleft palate," "palatal," "oronasal fistula," "acellular dermal matrix," and "Alloderm®." An online survey was disseminated to members of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association to assess current trends in ADM use in palate surgery.

STUDY SELECTION

All studies evaluating the outcome of primary palate repair or repair of oronasal fistula with the use of aceullar dermal matrix products were included in the review.

RESULTS

Twelve studies met inclusion criteria for review. Studies were generally of low quality, as indicated by methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS) scores ranging from 7 to 14. The pooled estimate for fistula formation after primary palatoplasty following ADM use was 7.1%. The pooled estimate for recurrence of fistula after attempted repair using ADM was 11%. Thirty-six cleft surgeons responded to the online survey study. Of these, 45% used ADM in primary cleft palate repair, while 67% used ADM for repair of oronasal fistulae.

CONCLUSION

Use of ADM products is commonplace in palate surgery. Despite this, there is a paucity of high-quality data demonstrating benefit. Further randomized controlled trials examining ADM in palate surgery are required to help develop structured guidelines and improve care.

Acellular Dermal Matrix Use in Cleft Palate and Palatal Fistula Repair: A Potential Benefit?

BACKGROUND

In cleft palate repair, anatomically oriented, tension free, atraumatic total closure is the key to achieve a normal speech consecutive to a sufficient velopharyngeal closure and also to prevent postoperative fistula development. In this clinical study, we review our experience with acellular dermal matrix (ADM) which was used as an adjunct to facilitate difficult cleft palate and palatal fistula closure.

METHODS

From October 2009 till December 2013, primary cleft palate and fistula repairs in which ADM was used were culled from the cleft surgery files. Acellular dermal matrix was used as an extra layer in between palatal flaps of primary repairs and as a sandwiched sheet separating the flaps used to repair fistulas. In addition to patient, cleft and fistula demographics, records were evaluated for sizes, fistula development, fistula recurrence, extrusion, exposure, and infection.

RESULTS

Acellular dermal matrix was used in 35 patients with palatal clefts of mean size 15 ± 4  mm and in 15 palatal fistulas. Two-flap palatoplasty technique was the dominant technique for the palate repair. Fistula rate for the palate repair was 8.5% and fistula recurrence rate was 20%. Mean follow-up for the palate and fistula repair patients was 29 ± 15 months and 32 ± 11 months, respectively. In two cases of palatoplasty group and in four cases of fistula repair group, ADM was exposed resulting in total extrusion in two fistula cases.

CONCLUSIONS

In this ongoing experience of application, ADM has been shown to be a simple, safe, and helpful tool to reduce fistula rate mainly in relatively wide and high tension tenuous cleft palate repairs but less favorable in challenging fistula closure attempts particularly along with poorly vascularized surrounding tissues. However, study design and its results are yet far from strongly recommending routine ADM use in cleft palate surgery.

Calvarial periosteal graft for second-stage cleft palate surgery: a preliminary report

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of cleft palate surgery are to achieve optimal outcomes regarding speech development, hearing, maxillary arch development and facial skull growth. Early two-stage cleft palate repair has been the most recent protocol of choice to achieve good maxillary arch growth without compromising speech development. Hard palate closure occurs within one year of soft palate surgery. However, in some cases the residual hard palate cleft width is larger than 15 mm at the age of two. As previously reported, integrated speech development starts around that age and it is a challenge since we know that early mobilization of the mucoperiosteum interferes with normal facial growth on the long-term. In children with large residual hard palate clefts at the age 2, we report the use of calvarial periosteal grafts to close the cleft.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

With a retrospective 6-year study (2006-2012) we first analyzed the outcomes regarding impermeability of hard palate closure on 45 patients who at the age of two presented a residual cleft of the hard palate larger than 15 mm and benefited from a periosteal graft. We then studied the maxillary growth in these children. In order to compare long-term results, we included 14 patients (age range: 8-20) treated between 1994 & 2006. Two analyses were conducted, the first one on dental casts from birth to the age of 6 and the other one based on lateral cephalograms following Delaire's principles and TRIDIM software.

RESULTS

After the systematic cephalometric analysis of 14 patients, we found no evidence of retrognathia or Class 3 dental malocclusion. In the population of 45 children who benefited from calvarial periosteal grafts the rate of palate fistula was 17% vs. 10% in the overall series.

CONCLUSION

Despite major advances in understanding cleft defects, the issues of timing and choice of the surgical procedure remain widely debated. In second-stage surgery for hard palate closure, using a calvarial periosteal graft could be the solution for large residual clefts without compromising adequate speech development by encouraging proper maxillary arch growth.