Treatment of submucous cleft palate with selective use of the Furlow Z-palatoplasty.

Purpose: Submucous cleft is an uncommon entity that can be complicated by functional abnormalities, specifically velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI), secondary to abnormal palatal muscular insertion. This study aims to characterize our experience using the Furlow Z-palatoplasty for the treatment of VPI in patients with submucous clefts.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted looking at 24 patients diagnosed with symptomatic submucous clefts between 2000 and 2007 at Children's Hospital of New Orleans.