Effect of Modified Furlow Vs Two-Flap Technique on Eustachian Tube Function

Background: One of the most common congenital defects of the face is cleft palate (CP).A middle ear issue nearly always affects children who have cleft palates.The way that palatoplasty is performed has a significant impact on how well middle ear function is restored after CP correction.Objective: This study aimed to assess the significance of modified Furlow vs two-flaps technique on Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction.Patients and methods: Seventy two cleft palate patients were divided into 2 groups: Group1 included 42 patients done by modified Furlow Z-plasty operation.Group 2 included 30 patients done by two flaps palatoplasty.Pre-and postoperative ear evaluation done at 1, 3,6,12 months.Results: Repair of cleft palate leading to direct improvement of ET dysfunction improvement ear function.Modified Furlow showed early improvement at 3 months post-operative of middle ear function (p value 0.004), but had no superiority after one year over two flaps Palato-plasty. Conclusion:The two procedures showed significant effect as regards decreasing severity of ET function and middle ear affection.Thus, supporting conservative management of middle ear effusion instead of prophylactic tube insertion.