In simple words: This surgery fixes a cleft palate, a birth defect where there's a gap in the roof of the mouth. The surgeon moves tissue and muscles to close the gap, sometimes creating a sling of muscle.They might use extra tissue flaps to cover the area.The surgeon also lengthens the soft part of the palate so it works better.They then stitch everything up.

Repair of a cleft palate, a congenital defect where the palate's midline doesn't fuse during development, often accompanied by a split uvula.This procedure involves repositioning the soft palate muscles, potentially creating a muscle sling.Flaps may be used to cover the cleft and raw areas. Lengthening of the soft palate may be achieved through various techniques, such as a horizontal back-cut covered by a vomer or buccal mucosal flap, or a double reverse Z-plasty.The procedure concludes with suturing, irrigation, and checking for bleeding.

Example 1: A 10-month-old infant with a cleft palate and a bifid uvula undergoes a palatoplasty with secondary lengthening of the soft palate using a vomer flap technique., A 7-month-old child with a wide cleft palate undergoes a palatoplasty where the surgeon performs a double reverse Z-plasty for lengthening the soft palate., A child with a previously repaired cleft palate experiences velopharyngeal incompetence and requires a secondary palatoplasty with lengthening of the soft palate using a buccal mucosal flap.

Documentation should include the diagnosis of cleft palate, the specific surgical techniques employed (e.g., vomer flap, Z-plasty, muscle sling), the extent of the cleft, presence of a bifid uvula, pre- and post-operative photographs, and any complications encountered.