Modifying the two-stage cleft palate surgical correction.

Objective: This paper reports the experience with a two-stage approach to surgical correction of the complete cleft palate, wherein timing of the second stage is dependent on the judgment of the speech pathologist and the orthodontist together with the surgeon.

Patients: Of a total of 35 patients having complete unilateral clefts a sample of 22 were available for postsurgical assessment. The first-stage repair of the palate was carried out at an average age of 10.