Influences of different palatoplasties on palatal growth and speech development: comparison between Osada's two-stage palatoplasty and one-stage mucosal flap procedure.

Palatal growth and articulation in two different palatal closure techniques, Osada's two-stage procedure and the conventional one-stage procedure, were evaluated in 12 patients. Osada's procedure (hard palate closure using a vomer flap with complete closure of the raw surface by a full thickness skin graft) is a two-stage operation that consists of early soft palate closure at the time of lip closure (3 to 6 months of age). The palatal sizes and the depth of the palatal arch were significantly greater in the two-stage group than in the one-stage group at 1 year of age and, 3 to 5 years of age. There were no differences between the two groups at the velopharyngeal closure evaluation after hard palate closure and at final speech evaluation. Osada's two-stage palatoplasty has many advantages and we believe that this is one of the most recommendable procedures at present.