Use of the cheek blade of the Dingman mouth gag to aid elevation of the buccal cheek flap in cleft palate surgery
Abstract
The use of additional mucosal bolstering of the nasal layer in cleft palate repairs is a commonly used technique. The buccal cheek mucosal flap is a common donor site. This flap is normally elevated using the surgeon's finger for counterpressure from the skin side of the cheek. A simple idea, using the cheek blade of the Dingman mouth gag externally, to serve as a stable platform to aid the elevation of this flap is presented.