Successful Staged Management of Alveolar Cleft in a Young Adult Using Combination of Local Flap, Tongue Flap, and Iliac Graft.

Abstract

This case report details a 2-stage protocol for treating alveolar clefts, utilizing autogenous bone grafts and tongue flap techniques. This case demonstrates the value of a meticulously tailored surgical protocol (autogenous iliac bone grafting, tongue flaps, and a 2-stage approach) for achieving functional and aesthetic restoration in complex adult alveolar cleft defects, based on patient-specific anatomical traits and the extent of the defect. Further comparative research could explore long-term outcomes of such staged approaches versus single-stage repairs in similarly complex adult cases.