The tongue flap in the primary treatment of cleft palate: a report of 19 cases.

The conflict between the need to create an effective levator palati sling on the one hand, and the morbidity of raising oral mucoperiosteal flaps on the other, is highlighted in the treatment of clefts of the bony palate, with a limited review of the existing literature. A method in which an anteriorly based tongue flap is used to cover the raw areas resulting from displacement of the oral mucoperiosteal flaps to reconstruct and maintain the levator palati sling in its proper place is described in the primary treatment of cleft palates in 19 cases. One of these cases is presented in detail with the help of illustrations. Comments are added about the method employed. The future plan of action in regard to this method is mentioned.