Patient: My child (15 months old) has a second degree cleft palate. It has been 9 days since the cleft palate suture surgery, and today I found that the suture in the middle of the palate is split as big as a pinky finger (a small piece of flesh has fallen off), and the stitches in that area have fallen off and are gone. The stitches are still visible in other places. We are very worried and anxious! I am afraid that it will continue to crack. What should I do to treat this situation? Dr. Ma Lian, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University Hospital of Stomatology
Beijing University Hospital of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Ma Lian: Pay attention to your diet and continue to eat soft food. It may be larger, stable for about two weeks, and smaller for the next three months to six months, at least six months after surgery and then repair.