Fat graft patch boosts palate hole repair in cleft patients

This study tested a new surgical technique for repairing a common complication after cleft palate surgery: a hole (fistula) in the roof of the mouth. In 36 patients, half received the standard two-layer repair, while the other half also had a small piece of fat from the cheek placed between the layers. The goal was to see if the fat graft helped wounds heal better and reduced the chance of the hole coming back.