Current Concepts and Future of Cleft Palate Repair Surgery

Abstract Purpose of Review To identify current limitations in cleft palate repair and discuss both the current state and future direction of cleft palate repair. Recent Findings Recent advancements in the care of patients with cleft palate span the entire timeline of treatment, from presurgical optimization, surgical repair, and the management of complications. Some of the most notable changes include improved prenatal imaging which allows for earlier diagnosis, improved preoperative multidisciplinary care coordination, the use of presurgical orthodontics like nasoalveolar molding to optimize anatomy, and growing evidence for the consideration of earlier repair. Intraoperatively, the Furlow palatoplasty and use of buccal myomucosal flaps continue to gain popularity due to their favorable speech and fistula outcomes, while novel technologies like exoscopes, 3D printing, and advances in tissue engineering are enhancing operative precision and outcomes. Summary This review highlights recent advances in the diagnosis, surgical management, and multidisciplinary care of cleft palate patients, with a focus on innovations that aim to improve speech outcomes, minimize postoperative complications, and optimize long-term craniofacial growth.