Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. S. M. Balaji skillfully performed the cleft alveolar correction surgery with iliac bone graft on the parent’s request. An incision was made on the iliac crest and using the “Trap door technique” cortico-cancellous bone graft was harvested. A block of medial cortex of the iliac bone was harvested. The donor site was closed in layers.
Intraorally, a gingivomucoperiosteal flap was raised to expose the alveolar cleft defect. Since there was a huge oronasal communication causing nasal depression, the bone graft was used to reconstruct the alveolar base. The graft was fixed with a titanium screw to completely close the communication and to raise the alar base. Results were immediate. The patient and her parents were very happy to have the huge cleft defect successfully treated without scarring.