Intravelar veloplasty: surgical modification according to anatomical defect.

The patient is often left with an oro-nasal fistula after the intravelar veloplasty procedure for the primary closure of the hard and soft palate cleft. The junction between the hard and soft palate is submitted to maximal tension during this procedure and is where the fistula most often occurs. The primary intravelar veloplasty procedure is discussed and 7 surgical modifications are introduced. The aim of these modifications is the prevention of an oro-nasal fistula and each is specifically adapted according to the existing anatomical form and defect of the cleft palate. The surgical modifications are divided into 2 main groups: those based on localised swivel flaps and those based on distant flaps.