Custom-Made Cleft Palate Models to Teach V-Y Pushback Palatoplasty

Abstract We developed custom-made cleft palate (CP) models to teach V-Y pushback palatoplasty, with a focus on design and mucoperiosteal elevation. A model (23 cm wide, 30 cm long, and 13 cm high) was made using silicone (model 1; M1). On the palate of a skull model, 2 layers of colored rubber clay were applied to represent the superficial oral mucoperiosteum and deep nasal mucosa (model 2; M2). From the greater palatine foramen, threads of dental floss were inserted inside the clay, representing the greater palatine artery. In a workshop, a mouth gag was applied on M1, and participants designed 2-flap palatoplasty and 4-flap palatoplasty. On the palate of M2, incisions were made with a #15 blade. On M2, a mucoperiosteal flap (rubber clay over the hard palate) was elevated using a periosteal elevator, avoiding injury to the dental floss mimicking the greater palatine artery. Six participants were recruited for the workshop and were asked to rate their satisfaction with the outcome on a Likert scale. For CP design, participants answered that they had learned useful knowledge from this workshop, reflecting a significant improvement (4.0 ± 1.1 for incomplete CP, 4.2 ± 1.2 for complete CP). They became confident in this skill after the workshop (4.2 ± 0.8 for incomplete CP, 3.8 ± 0.8 for complete CP). For cleft mucoperiosteal flap elevation, they likewise learned useful knowledge (4.7 ± 0.5 for incomplete CP, 4.5 ± 0.5 for complete CP) and became confident in this skill (3.8 ± 0.8 for incomplete CP, 4.0 ± 0.6 for complete CP.) These models can be useful for V-Y pushback palatoplasty training for medical personnel.