Abstract
Palatal push back method has been used widely for cleft palate repair. Although the main aim of palatal push back method is retropositioning of the velum, velopharyngeal insufficiency is sometimes observed after the operation in the case of long vertical distance of the velopharyngeal space. We describe a new method called Palatal Pull Upward Method in order to shorten the distance. In this method, the mucosal flaps on the soft palate are turned over and sutured to the cranial base of the nasal septum, thus pulling the velum upward toward the pharynx. The sling of the levator muscle is also reconstructed. Therefore, the palatal pull upward method reduces the vertical distance of the velopharyngeal space and coincides with the levator muscle function.
