[The features and clinical applications of the buccal fat pad in patients with cleft palate].

Objective: Improving the effectiveness of primary surgery of uranoplasty and re-reconstruction of the palate in patients with cleft palate through the use of an axial flap of the fat body of the cheek.

Material and methods: In the period from 2023-2024, 41 patients with cleft palate aged from 1 to 19 years were operated on. Of these, 28 people had a flap of the cheek fat body used in risk groups during primary uranoplasty (group 1) and in 13 patients to eliminate postoperative palate defects of various localization and extent (group 2).

Results: In patients of group 1, healing of the postoperative wound by primary tension was noted. The result of the operation was a movable palate, rising and remaining in ascent with phonation with a pronounced pharyngeal reflex. In 12 patients of group 2, the integrity of the palate was completely restored. In one patient, the size of the defect decreased from 2.0×1.8 cm to 0.2×0.2 cm. There were no complications associated with the mobilization of a fat flap or a donor site in any patient.

Conclusion: The use of an axial flap is a reliable, simple and convenient method of treating and preventing defects of the hard and soft palate in patients with cleft lip and palate, which reduces the risk of defects during primary surgery and increases the percentage of successful reconstruction during repeated operations. Due to its unique properties, this flap increases the survival of the mucous-periosteal flaps, and in cases of tissue deficiency it can serve as the only substitute for the oral mucosa.