Secondary closure of alveolar clefts without bone graft were performed in six patients with narrow alveolar clefts. The patients' ages ranged from 10 to 12 years 4 months.
The surgical technique was similar to bone grafting methods. The alveolar clefts were completely exposed and the bone surfaces were carefully roughened by chiselling. The maxillary defect was then closed by suturing the nasal, palatal and labial mucoperiosteal flaps.
As a result, a bone the bridge was formed in the alveolar clefts of all cases. Bone bridging time was from 3 months to 1 year 2 months after operation.
