The incomplete defects of hard palate result in oro-nasal fistula seldom cure themselves in a spontaneous way, due to limited condition in oral and nasal cavity it may be difficult to obtain satisfactory cicatrization, requiring surgery to interfere in the healing process. Fourteen dogs arranged in two groups were submitted to experimental hard palate cleft. The G1 group was the control group, in which palatoplasty was achieved with mucous-periosteum flap. In the G2 group, a preserved at 98% glycerin auricular pinna cartilage was used between the palate bone and mucous-periosteum. The mucosal healing and bone regeneration were evaluated, radiographied and the nasal mucosa was observed by rhinoscopy. The oral mucosa heal was observed at the tenth day, but the suture dehiscence occurred in two dogs from the G1 group. The radiography evaluation demonstrated bone regeneration evolution quicker in the G2 group, than in the G1 group. The complete nasal mucous regeneration was demonstrated by rhinoscopy at the sixtieth day. The conclusive evaluation observed full bone union in the G2 group and unachieved bone union in the G1 group, which showed graft interference in the G2 group bone regeneration.
palatoplasty; graft; glycerin; canine
