Furlow Palatoplasty

• Furlow palatoplasty can strengthen and clarify your child’s voice.
• It can also control food or liquid coming out of your child’s nose when they are eating or drinking.
• This procedure can enhance your child’s social confidence and improve quality of life.

Risks of Furlow palatoplasty include:

• Excessive bleeding (small amounts of bleeding in the first few days are OK)
• Tissue breakdown or abnormal opening in the soft palate (fistula)
• A need for another surgical procedure

Consulting a board-certified otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) who specializes in children’s care minimizes risks. 

To prepare your child for a Furlow palatoplasty, the doctor will work with experts in other specialties to evaluate your child’s speech. Physical examination helps the doctor see your child’s palate and determine if a Furlow palatoplasty is the best way to fix the cleft.

A Furlow palatoplasty takes place in a hospital operating room. The surgery itself takes about two hours, but preparation and recovery time make the procedure longer.

1. Your child is asleep under general anesthesia. 
2. The anesthesiologist supports your child’s breathing through every step, and the whole team monitors your child and keeps them safe.
3. The doctors reach the soft part of the palate through your child’s mouth. 
4. They make a surgical opening shaped like a Z in the roof of the mouth. 
5. They lengthen and move the palate muscles into position to cover the cleft.
6. Stitches (sutures) secure the muscles in place. 

Furlow palatoplasty recovery: 

• Your child will spend a day or two in the hospital under observation. 
• The doctor may recommend a soft diet for 1 or 2 weeks.
• You will get instructions on oral hygiene to help your child heal.
• The stitches will dissolve on their own.
• Swelling may take several weeks to resolve.
• The doctor follows up with you and your child after several months to assess healing.
• Speech therapy helps retrain your child’s voice and speech, which will improve over time.