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The rate of postoperative cleft palate fistula is influenced by palatal repair methods. High incidence of cleft palate fistula is associated with pushback palatoplasty, because wide elevation of mucoperiosteal flaps can cause hematoma and exudate, which make flaps thinner so necrotise. Thus, the authors tried to reduce the wound disruption, hematoma, and dead space while performing pushback palatoplasty in complete cleft palate by applying compressive dressing over mucoperiosteal flaps. As a result, the incidence of cleft palate fistula was statistically reduced after compressive dressing. Three fistulas occurred in 14 patients treated by pushback palatoplasty without compressive dressing, but no fistula occurred in 25 patients treated by pushback palatoplasty with compressive dressing. By applying the compressive dressing after Pushback palatoplasty, it is expected not only reduced short-term complication, but also better results in the long-term follow up of maxillary growth and speech development.
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