[Tibial periostal graft in the repair of the primary cleft palate: preliminary report of a new technique (author's transl)].

Reconstruction of the oral plane of a primary cleft palate using tibial periostal graft at the primary repair stage seems a highly appealing technique: -- the osteogenic power of the periosteum used as a free transplant has been demonstrated long ago (Ollier, Axhausen); -- two requisites must be filled when primary palate repair is undertaken: maintainance of the nasal fossa size and maintenance of the palatal fibromucosa that must be not submitted to any traction whatsoever, otherwise endognathia will arise. A vast, tight and strong periostal plane will be obtained with the periostal graft, the latter bringing also bone to the cleft. Better still, such a periostal graft can be extended backwards over the entire length of the cleft bony palate which will subsequently create a situation requiring simple soft palate repair.