Master’s Degree Awarded to Mr. Hael Ahmed Al-Rabahi in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Sana’a, Yemen – May 15, 2025 – Mr. Hael Ahmed Ahmed Al-Rabahi from the Faculty of Dentistry at Sana’a University was awarded a Master degree with an overall grade of (Excellent) in the major of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. His thesis, titled “The Effect of Using Collagen Membrane as an Interleaving Material for Palatal Fistula Closure After Cleft Palate Repair in a Sample of Yemeni Patients,” was successfully defended on Thursday, Dhu al-Qa’dah 17, 1446 Hijri, corresponding to May 15, 2025.
The Viva-voce committee comprised the following members:
- Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ashwal
- Internal Examiner and Chair: Dr. Yahya Abdullah Al-Hadi
- External Examiner: Assoc. Prof. Ahmed Saleh Al-Khatri
The thesis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using a collagen membrane as an interleaving material in achieving the closure of palatal fistulas following cleft palate repair surgery in a sample of Yemeni patients.
Key findings of the thesis revealed that the surgical use of a collagen membrane as an interleaving material for palatal fistula closure yields effective results in successfully closing the fistula and preventing its recurrence in an excellent percentage of patients.
In his recommendations, Mr. Al-Al-Rabahi emphasized the need for extensive and diverse studies with long-term follow-up exceeding three months to ascertain the true effectiveness of collagen membrane in palatal fistula closure and to establish its adoption as a standard for palatal fistula closure.
The defense was attended by a number of academics, researchers, students, and interested individuals, as well as the candidate’s colleagues and family members.
