Comparative study between V-Y pushback technique and Furlow technique in cleft soft palate repair

Many methods of cleft palate repair have been described. Two effective methods are commonly used for repair of soft palate clefts: the Wardill-Kilner V-Y push back and the Furlow double opposing Z-plasty; each has advantages and disadvantages. The aim of this study was to compare between the V-Y push back technique and the Furlow Z-plasty technique regarding effectiveness in palatal reconstruction and improvement of velopharyngeal closure in cases of cleft soft palate. Also, operative duration time and blood loss were considered. This study was conducted on 60 patients diagnosed to have cleft soft palate. The patients were randomly classified into two equal groups A and B. In group A, the cleft palate was repaired using V-Y push back technique while in group B the cleft palate was repaired using Furlow double opposing Z-plasty technique. Flexible nasopharyngoscopy and perceptual speech resonance evaluation were used to assess the velopharyngeal closure and speech outcome, respectively. Nasalance score was measured for nasal and oral sentences in both groups. The average operative duration time and blood loss were lesser in Z-plasty than in V-Y pushback technique. Two of the cases subjected to V-Y pushback technique developed fistula while none of the cases subjected to Z-plasty showed this complication. Velopharyngeal closure and speech outcome was better after Z-plasty than after V-Y pushback technique with significant nasometric data. The Furlow Zplasty is better than the V-Y pushback technique in the repair of clefts involving the soft palate as it has a higher success rate regarding speech outcome and velopharyngeal closure; also, it has a lower operative time and blood loss.