A Review on Evolution and Controversies Regarding Surgical Methods and Timing of Palatoplasty in UCLP Cases

To establish speech, growth and development of maxillofacial region and hearing etc. towards normal is the aim of every professional working for cleft care. With a quest to attain and normalize the growth and development in CLP since ages, researchers and workers have invented and still inventing newer technique to treat them. The procedure of surgeries has evolved over a period of time. Controversies concerning speech and maxillofacial growth have challenged many surgeons who have come up with different views in surgical methods. Studies suggest that the palate repair is the main cause of the maxilla and growth disturbance that later is responsible for speech impairment due to fibrous tissue in anterior palate and constricted tissue in uvula due to repair. Many authors have noted that delayed hard palate repair has more positive effects on maxillary growth than that of early hard palate repair, but studies have also proved that late palate repair impair the speech with due respect. This unsolved controversy whether to opt for late/ early palatoplasty w.r.t to the improvement in speech is still unsolved controversy. The purpose of this article is to review the history of cleft palate surgery, its evolution, various surgical methods and optimal timing of cleft palate repair.