Stem cell technique for cleft palate repair: A paper reports a case of using umbilical cord blood stem cells to close the upper jaw cleft in an infant with cleft lip and palate. The stem cells were placed in a pocket of soft tissue with a biomaterial scaffold during reconstructive surgery.

Advantages of stem cell technique: The stem cell technique may avoid the need for later bone graft surgery, which uses bone from the child’s body and has potential complications. The stem cell technique also uses the newborn’s own stem cells, which have a greater potential to regenerate.

Limitations and future research: The study is the first of its kind and needs further monitoring and evaluation in larger samples. The researchers also need to confirm that bone formation results from the stem cells, and not from the initial surgery.