Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “palatoplasty”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Comparison of speech results after Furlow palatoplasty and von Langenbeck palatoplasty in incomplete cleft of the secondary palate.

BACKGROUND: Due to many confounding factors, it is not easy to answer which method of cleft repair is superior to others. The purpose of this study is to try to compare the treatment result of different types of palatoplasty in patients who had the same cleft type and same treatment protocol besides the method of cleft repair. We selected nonsyndromic patients with incomplete cleft of the secondary palate. The speech results after the two palatoplasties were compared. METHODS: Ninety-six children with nonsyndromic incomplete clefts of the secondary palate who received palatoplasty at the Craniofacial Center of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from 1989 to 1997 were studied. Forty-six patients received Furlow palatoplasty and 50 patients received von Langenbeck palatoplasty. Velopharyngeal function was evaluated by speech pathologists periodically after the patient was two and half years old. Adequacy of velopharyngeal function was used as a measurement of speech outcome. RESULTS: The Furlow palatoplasty group showed excellent results with 98% (45/46) adequacy in velopharyngeal function. In the von Langenbeck palatoplasty group, only 70% (35/50) of the patients had adequate velopharyngeal function. Statistical analysis with Fisher's exact test showed a significant difference (p < 0.0001, p < 0.05). Only one patient had an oronasal fistula after Furlow palatoplasty. After von Langenbeck palatoplasty, one patient had an oronasal fistula and one had wound dehiscence. CONCLUSION: In this study, there was a better speech outcome after Furlow palatoplasty than von Langenbeck palatoplasty for repair of incomplete cleft of the secondary palate. Also, the number of complications after a Furlow palatoplasty was low. It should be a recommended treatment.

Cleft Palate↗
PubMed2006

Conversion Furlow palatoplasty: salvage of speech after straight-line palatoplasty and "incomplete intravelar veloplasty".

INTRODUCTION: The straight-line palatoplasty with intravelar veloplasty (IVVP) is one option for cleft palate repair. However, not all IVVPs are performed uniformly. Many IVVPs only address the medialmost portion of the levator muscle, an "incomplete IVVP," failing to completely dissect and adequately transpose the entire levator muscle, "complete IVVP." We believe that for optimal speech results, IVVPs should completely mobilize and posteriorly displace the levator. We propose that a conversion Furlow palatoplasty performed with a "complete IVVP" will correct postoperative velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) and alleviate the need for pharyngoplasty. METHODS: Nineteen patients with postoperative VPI, having had prior straight-line palatoplasty and reported "IVVP," underwent conversion Furlow palatoplasty. Those with a pre- and postoperative Pittsburgh Weighted Speech Scale (PWSS) value and no other history of palatal surgeries were included in this study. Statistical analysis was performed by using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test. RESULTS: Patients' median age was 5.5 years (range, 4-15 years), with 13 males and 7 females. The median preoperative PWSS score was 11.00 (range, 3-24.5), and the median postoperative was 1.00 (range, 0-5) (P < 0.001). All subcategories of the PWSS were also improved. Eight children had a preoperative fistula, and all were successfully corrected. At the time of conversion Furlow palatoplasty, all patients demonstrated no evidence of previous IVVP as the levator muscle was found to be scarred to the posterior edge of the hard palate. CONCLUSION: The conversion Furlow palatoplasty can be used to significantly improve VPI and salvage speech after a straight-line palatoplasty with an "incomplete IVVP." Patients with postoperative VPI should first be considered for conversion Furlow palatoplasty performed with a "complete IVVP" prior to progressing to pharyngoplasty.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Modifications of the Furlow palatoplasty (six- and seven-flap palatoplasties).

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the Furlow palatoplasty, a modified Furlow palatoplasty, and traditional palatoplasty methods. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of the results. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cases were evaluated for operating time and complications, including oronasal fistula and blood loss. RESULTS: There were no fistulas in any of the 19 patients who were included in our study. The modified Furlow palatoplasty was found to increase operating time and blood loss. CONCLUSION: The use of the modified Furlow palatoplasty is feasible in select cases; however, this technique increases operating time and blood loss, which must be balanced against the theoretical advantages of increased palatal function with the Furlow palatoplasty.

Blood Loss, Surgical↗
PubMed2005

The correction of velopharyngeal insufficiency by Furlow palatoplasty in patients older than 3 years undergoing Veau-Wardill-Kilner palatoplasty: a prospective clinical study.

BACKGROUND: Velopharyngeal insufficiency may persist after primary repair of the palate. This insufficiency causes a speech deficit. Although there are many treatment alternatives, the most effective treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency remains controversial. METHODS: The authors performed Furlow palatoplasty in patients older than 3 years who had undergone primary palatoplasty with the Veau-Wardill-Kilner technique. Speech was assessed by a speech therapist before and after the operation. Velopharyngeal closure and velum motion were recorded using a video nasendoscope before and also 12 months after the operation. Any increase in velum length was measured. RESULTS: After Furlow palatoplasty, 10 of 27 patients (37 percent) made complete recovery and 12 (44 percent) made substantial recovery from hypernasal resonance, but five (18.5 percent) showed no improvement. Regarding nasal emission, 16 of 27 patients (59.3 percent) made complete and eight (29.6 percent) made substantial recovery, but there was no change in three (11 percent). Five of 27 patients (18.5 percent) achieved complete intelligibility and 18 of 27 (66.7 percent) improved intelligibility, but four (14.8 percent) did not show any improvement in intelligibility. Articulation improved considerably in 17 of 27 (63 percent). The overall rate of surgical success and near misses who benefited from the surgery was 18 of 27 (67 percent), and a positive correlation between surgical success and articulation and intelligibility was noticed. Video nasendoscopy showed complete velopharyngeal closure in 15 of 27 patients (56 percent). The mean velar length increased by 44 percent. After secondary Furlow palatoplasty, patients with small gaps benefited more. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that Furlow palatoplasty performed in later years improves not only speech but also velopharyngeal closure by reorienting the levator veli palatini muscle and augmenting the velum.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Influences of different palatoplasties on palatal growth and speech development: comparison between Osada's two-stage palatoplasty and one-stage mucosal flap procedure.

Palatal growth and articulation in two different palatal closure techniques, Osada's two-stage procedure and the conventional one-stage procedure, were evaluated in 12 patients. Osada's procedure (hard palate closure using a vomer flap with complete closure of the raw surface by a full thickness skin graft) is a two-stage operation that consists of early soft palate closure at the time of lip closure (3 to 6 months of age). The palatal sizes and the depth of the palatal arch were significantly greater in the two-stage group than in the one-stage group at 1 year of age and, 3 to 5 years of age. There were no differences between the two groups at the velopharyngeal closure evaluation after hard palate closure and at final speech evaluation. Osada's two-stage palatoplasty has many advantages and we believe that this is one of the most recommendable procedures at present.

Articulation Disorders↗
PubMed2006

Randomized-controlled study comparing post-operative pain between coblation palatoplasty and laser palatoplasty.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate differences in post-operative pain comparing KTP laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty without tonsillectomy (LAUP) with a new described surgical method: coblation uvulopalatoplasty with tonsillectomy (CP). We also evaluate the impact of each surgical technique in reduction of snoring loudness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Single blind randomized-controlled trial. From a population of 41 consecutive patients on the waiting list for uvulopalatoplasty for simple snoring, the study group was reduced to 17 CP and 13 LAUP. Post-operative pain and reduction of snoring loudness were recorded using visual analogue scales (VAS) during the first 15 post-operative days. Post-operative snoring loudness was documented for 1-year period. RESULTS: Both groups had similar post-operative pain during the first seven post-operative days. A statistically significant reduction in post-operative pain was observed in the CP group after day 8, and maintained until the end of the study. Reduction of snoring loudness was significant in both groups, but no differences were observed between them. DISCUSSION: Coblation uvulopalatoplasty compared with LAUP demonstrates a reduction in post-operative pain, significant after the first post-operative week. The collateral thermal injury caused by laser is responsible for the slow-healing rate and maintained post-operative pain. Coblation dissociates tissue at lower temperatures with minimal collateral thermal injury and consequently faster and less painful recovery. Both surgical procedures have significant and similar reduction in snoring loudness. CONCLUSIONS: Both methods are adequate treatment options for snoring. The less painful recovery in CP promotes this surgical technique as our preferred choice for palate surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The effect of surgeon experience on velopharyngeal functional outcome following palatoplasty: is there a learning curve?

There is little information in the cleft palate literature concerning the relationship between surgeon volume and clinical outcomes. It is unknown whether such a relationship applies specifically to velopharyngeal dysfunction and the need for secondary physical management of the velopharynx. The purpose of this paper was to explore the concept of an operative learning curve for different surgeons with respect to palatoplasty. Impact of case volume and procedure type on the occurrence of secondary palatal management (the main outcome measure) was assessed. The charts of 472 consecutive palatoplasty patients were reviewed by one speech and language pathologist to determine when the palatoplasty was performed, which surgeon (n = 9) performed the palatoplasty, whether velopharyngeal status was documented at a minimum of 6 years of age, and whether secondary palatal management was prescribed. The results were analyzed by year of palatoplasty, by surgeon, and by number of operations per surgeon to determine total and individual surgeon rates of secondary palatal management. There were 401 palatoplasties (85 percent recovery) with adequate documentation of velopharyngeal status by at least 6 years of age. Palatoplasty rates ranged between 1 and 258 palatoplasties per surgeon. Over the 12 years reviewed, secondary palatal management was performed for 92 patients (23 percent) of the study population. Examination of the proportion of palatoplasty patients receiving secondary palatal management by surgeon and by year showed only one surgeon with a pattern suggesting a learning curve. The proportion of patients receiving secondary palatal management was plotted against the total number of surgeries the surgeon performed. There was a strong relationship between experience and success. The number of procedures this surgeon performed per year increased at approximately the same time as the success rate improved. The categories of "total procedures" and "procedure per year" were highly correlated with each other. Success rates were analyzed by number of procedures performed per year, and there was a clear association between the two variables. To separate the effect of the two variables, a multiple regression model was constructed. The category of "total procedures" was statistically significant in the model, whereas procedures per year was not, suggesting that the key to the dominant surgeon's improvement was cumulative experience rather than frequency of performance of the operation. Palatoplasties performed by high-volume surgeons are more likely to result in better postoperative outcomes (i.e., lower rates of secondary palatal management) as compared with palatoplasties performed by low-volume surgeons. The influence of the surgeon's cumulative experience on improvement seems to be more important than the frequency of performance of primary palatoplasty.

Cleft Palate↗
PubMed2004

The long-term speech outcome in Flemish young adults after two different types of palatoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: The success of cleft palate surgery is specifically determined by the subsequent speech characteristics. There are several types of surgical techniques to repair the palate. The surgeon chooses his or her own technique according to the principles (s)he have established based on experience. The main purpose of this study is to determine and to compare the long-term speech outcome (18 years after surgery) regarding overall intelligibility, articulation, resonance, and voice after one-stage Wardill-Kilner palatoplasty or two-stage Furlow palatoplasty. The authors hypothesized that a decreased overall intelligibility, more compensatory articulation disorders, higher nasalance values and more nasality disorders would occur in the two-stage Furlow palatoplasty. Moreover, an increased risk for dysphonic symptoms, caused by the more intensive vocal tract activities, were expected in subjects with higher nasalance scores. An additional objective of this study was to compare the speech and voice characteristics with the age related normative data. Significant differences between the resonance and voice characteristics of the two techniques of palatoplasty and the normative data were hypothesized. METHODS: Objective as well as subjective assessment techniques were used. The evaluation of the articulation included a phonetic inventory and a relational analysis in which the consonant and vowel productions were compared with target productions and analyzed for error types at the segmental level. The speech samples were perceptually judged for intelligibility and nasality. The Nasometer was used for the objective measurement of the nasalance values. The assessment of the voice included a perceptual evaluation and a determination of the Dysphonia Severity Index. RESULTS: The subjects who received a two-stage Furlow palatoplasty showed statistically more hypernasality and higher nasalance scores in comparison with the one-stage Wardill-Kilner palatoplasty. No major differences regarding articulation and voice characteristics were found. As expected, significant differences were found between the speech intelligibility and resonance characteristics in subjects who received a palatoplasty and the normative data. CONCLUSION: Since the subjects who received a one-stage Wardill-Kilner palatoplasty had a significantly better speech outcome it was decided in the craniofacial team of the University Hospital of Ghent that a two-stage palatoplasty would no longer be performed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Influence of surgical technique on early postoperative hypoxaemia in children undergoing elective palatoplasty.

We have assessed the influence of different surgical procedures on the incidence, severity and duration of early postoperative hypoxaemia in 312 healthy infants and children undergoing elective palatoplasty. Group 1 patients underwent von Langenbeck palatoplasty (n = 149), group 2 patients underwent push-back palatoplasty (n = 124) and group 3 patients underwent combined push-back palatoplasty and superior pharyngeal flap surgery (n = 39). Arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) was recorded while patients were breathing air shortly after arrival in the recovery room (0 min), and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 120 and 180 min thereafter. Patients who underwent more complex surgical techniques for palatoplasty had lower postoperative SpO2 values, slower recovery of SpO2 and a higher incidence of hypoxaemia during the early postoperative period. There were significant differences in postoperative SpO2, values and the incidence of hypoxaemia. The incidences of hypoxaemia and severe hypoxaemia were 27% and 1%, respectively, in group 1, 37% and 12% in group 2, and 36% and 33% in group 3. Hypoxaemia occurred most commonly in the first 15 min in children after von Langenbeck palatoplasty, in the first 40 min after push-back palatoplasty and in the 120 min after combined push-back palatoplasty and superior pharyngeal flap surgery. There were significant associations between low SpO2 values, incidence of hypoxaemia on admission to the recovery room and recovery scores.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[A comparative study of velopharyngeal function after palatoplasty with different age group]

That the most suitable age of palatoplasty is still an argumentative question.The final purpose of palatoplasty is to obtain the satisfactory effectiveness is to obtain the satisfactory effectiveness of phonetic distinctness.So,early palatoplasty is suported by more more experts and patient's parents.This study detected 60 cases velopharyngeal function after traditional palatoplasty with two flaps,adopting nasopharyngeal fiberscope and detective system of image processing and quantitative analysis of velopharyngeal function,for long term evaluation of traditional palatoplasty with different operative success iin early palatoplasty group (less than 3 years old) was 80.0% while that in later palatoplasty group (more than 6 years old) was 53.3%.From other aspects of types of velopharyngeal competence,mobility of soft palate and rate of velopharyngeal coronary contraction,the author described advantages of early palatoplasty.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

A fiberscopic analysis of velopharyngeal movement before and after primary palatoplasty in cleft palate infants.

There have been few studies done on the abnormal function of velopharyngeal muscles in unrepaired cleft palate infants. To examine and assess velopharyngeal movement before primary palatoplasty offers supposedly any valuable information for the successful operation and the restoration of excellent velopharyngeal function. We designed to investigate and analyze velopharyngeal movement before and after primary palatoplasty in 26 cleft palate infants with a fine nasopharyngeal fiberscope. We found three different patterns of velopharyngeal movement in unrepaired cleft palate infants when crying or strangulation reflex occurred: (1) posterior movement type (10 cases, 38.5 percent), where the soft palates moved only posteriorly and cephalically and did not move medially; (2) medial movement type (10 cases, 38.5 percent), where the soft palates moved only medially and did not move posteriorly or cephalically; and (3) posteromedial movement type (6 cases, 23.0 percent), where the soft palates moved both posteriorly and cephalically as well as medially. Postoperative velopharyngeal closure was classified into three patterns: (1) the soft palate type, in which the soft palate mainly operates; (2) the lateral wall type, in which compensational medial movement of the lateral pharyngeal wall is mainly observed; and (3) the mixed type, in which both the soft palate and the lateral pharyngeal wall operate. Also, we demonstrated a close relationship between velopharyngeal movement before and after primary palatoplasty in cleft palate infants. In total, 10 of 16 cleft palate infants with the posterior movement type or posteromedial movement type, in which posterior movement of the soft palates was observed before primary palatoplasty, postoperatively showed the soft palate type of velopharyngeal closure. On the other hand, only 2 of 10 cleft palate infants with the medial movement type, in which the soft palates did not move posteriorly but medially before primary palatoplasty, postoperatively showed the soft palate type of velopharyngeal closure. The Fisher's exact probability test clarified that cleft palate infants with the posterior movement type or posteromedial movement type were more likely to show postoperatively the soft palate type of the velopharyngeal closure compared with those with the medial movement type (p = 0.051). This is the first trial to examine velopharyngeal movement in unrepaired cleft palate infants. Our findings indicate the probability that velopharyngeal closure mechanism in repaired cleft palate infants is able to be predicted by velopharyngeal movement behavior before primary palatoplasty. Next, we must clarify a correlation between preoperative velopharyngeal movement and postoperative velopharyngeal function and speech outcome.

Cleft Lip↗
PubMed2006

Two-flap palatoplasty: 20-year experience and evolution of surgical technique.

BACKGROUND: The two-flap palatoplasty was described more than 30 years ago, but there are few reports of long-term results using this technique. There are also very few long-term series of a single method of palatoplasty from a single surgeon. METHODS: The authors reviewed the technique of the two-flap palatoplasty, with emphasis on the senior author's (K.E.S.) modifications. The authors also retrospectively reviewed 382 two-flap palatoplasties performed by the senior author in nonsyndromic patients over a 20-year period. The incidence of secondary velopharyngeal surgery was established. Detailed speech analysis was performed in a subset of 150 patients. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency over 20 years was 8.92 percent, falling from 10.95 percent in the first decade to 6.43 percent in the second decade. There was no significant difference in velopharyngeal insufficiency between the cleft subtypes. Age at palatoplasty did not affect the development of velopharyngeal insufficiency, but it should be noted that most of the patients underwent palate repair before 12 months of age. Speech results were consistently good across the two decades. In the second decade, 91.14 percent had normal to mildly impaired resonance, 79.75 percent had no or inaudible nasal air emission, and 97.47 percent demonstrated no compensatory articulation errors. CONCLUSIONS: The two-flap palatoplasty is a reliable technique that has yielded excellent surgical and speech outcomes. Early and regular speech assessments and appropriate treatment when indicated are an integral part of the multidisciplinary approach to achieve good speech outcome.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2006

Soft palate mucosal adhesion as a preparation for Furlow's double-opposing Z-palatoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Furlow's double-opposing Z-palatoplasty enables both soft palate lengthening and palatal muscle reorientation, and outstanding speech results have been reported. However, Z-plasty often results in horizontal stress and requires relaxing incisions in some cases. This article presents the authors' novel two-stage Furlow double-opposing Z-palatoplasty used in 13 cleft lip-cleft palate patients. METHODS: During cheiloplasty, partial soft palate adhesion was performed. Only mucosal tissue was approximated to prevent damage to the palatal muscle. The residual palatal cleft decreased gradually, and palatoplasty was scheduled at the age of 1 year. Adhesive soft palate tissue was incised and Furlow's double-opposing Z-palatoplasty was performed in the usual manner. RESULTS: Eleven patients underwent Furlow's palatoplasty without relaxing incisions, and in two patients relaxing incisions were required along the inside of the alveolus. Relaxing incisions around the maxillary tuberosities were not required in any of the 13 cases. Analysis of the palatal cast models was carried out on the adhesion group (n = 13) and the control group (n = 9). In both groups, the mean distance between the tuberosities increased, and cleft widths at the alveolus and the middle of the hard palate were decreased. Furthermore, cleft width at the junction of the hard and soft palates was decreased significantly in the adhesion group compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: As a preparation for Furlow's palatoplasty, soft palate adhesion induced a decrease of cleft width without interfering with the transverse growth of the posterior maxilla and enabled Z-plasty of an adequate size without relaxing incisions.

Cleft Lip↗
PubMed1999

A single surgeon's experience with the Delaire palatoplasty.

The purpose of this review was to evaluate the clinical outcomes regarding velopharyngeal insufficiency and fistulization in patients with cleft palate who underwent primary repair with the one-stage Delaire palatoplasty. All patients who had a primary Delaire-type palatoplasty performed by the senior surgeon over a 10-year period (1988 to 1998) were studied. During this period, each consecutive patient with an open palatal cleft underwent the same type of repair by the same surgeon. Speech quality and velopharyngeal competence as determined by a single speech pathologist were recorded. A total of 95 patients were included in this series. The average length of follow-up was 31 months (range, 1 to 118 months). Average age at time of surgery was 13.3 months (range, 6 to 180 months). Thirty-one patients (32.6 percent) had significant associated anomalies. The average length of hospital stay was 1.9 days (range, 1 to 8 days) with a trend in recent years toward discharge on postoperative day 1. There were no intraoperative complications, either surgical or anesthetic. Three patients (3.2 percent) developed palatal fistula; none of them required repair. Six patients (6.3 percent) had velopharyngeal incompetence. In patients with more than 1 year of follow-up, the incidence of velopharyngeal incompetence was 9.2 percent (6 of 65). The incidence of fistula after the Delaire palatoplasty was lower than usually reported. The incidence of velopharyngeal incompetence requiring pharyngoplasty was equal to or lower than that seen after other types of palatoplasty, suggesting superior soft-palate muscle function attributable to approximation of the musculus uvulae. The Delaire palatoplasty results in a functional palate with low risk for fistula formation and velopharyngeal incompetence.

Child↗
PubMed2000

The effect of hamulus fracture on the outcome of palatoplasty: a preliminary report of a prospective, alternating study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether, in performing palatoplasty, fracture of the pterygoid hamulus is beneficial, detrimental, or neutral with respect to intraoperative and perioperative complications, hearing outcome, and speech outcome. DESIGN: Prospective, alternating. SETTING: Institutional, tertiary cleft palate center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 173 patients enrolled in the study, of whom 161 had charts available for analysis. INTERVENTIONS: During the performance of palatoplasty, 85 patients received hamulus fracture and 76 patients did not. All palatoplasties were performed by the same surgeon. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Surgical outcomes, including patient demographic data, palatoplasty type and duration, blood loss, incidences of oronasal fistulae, temporary mucosal dehiscence, and postoperative bleeding; (2) otolaryngological outcomes, including hearing results as judged by auditory brainstem response testing, myringotomy tube data describing rates of tube extrusion, and culture results from sampled effusions; and (3) preliminary speech outcomes as described by judgments of overall velopharyngeal function from perceptual speech samples. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in any of the measured surgical, otolaryngological, or preliminary speech outcomes were found between the groups who did and did not receive hamulus fracture. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, we are unable to advocate the performance of hamulus fracture as an operative maneuver during the performance of primary palatoplasty. The historical rationale and theoretical advantage of this maneuver have not been demonstrated here nor have any detrimental effects of the maneuver been measured.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed2003

Longitudinal follow-up of obstructive sleep apnea following Furlow palatoplasty in children with cleft palate: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: To longitudinally investigate the incidence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) following Furlow palatoplasty for velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) in children with cleft palate. SUBJECTS: Ten children, six boys and four girls, mean age 5.1 years, at Furlow palatoplasty. DESIGN: Prospective analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Overnight polysomnographic studies were used to determine the incidence and severity of sleep apneas 1 day prior to Furlow palatoplasty, 1 week postoperatively, and approximately 3 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: None of the patients suffered OSA prior to Furlow palatoplasty. A high incidence of mild OSA (100%) occurred during the early postoperative period (p <.001) but resolved within 3 months in all but two patients (20%). Only one OSA (10%) persisted 6 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Furlow palatoplasty for VPI in children with cleft palate might induce temporary and mild OSA.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Correction of velopharyngeal insufficiency with furlow palatoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the authors' experience with Furlow palatoplasty for velopharyngeal insufficiency. DESIGN: Review of 8 cases over a 3-year period. SETTING: Regional private practice hospital affiliated with a teaching university. PATIENTS: Eight patients aged 4 to 14 years with symptoms and signs of velopharyngeal insufficiency underwent Furlow palatoplasty. Four patients had submucous or soft palate clefts without previous intervention. Four patients had undergone previous surgery for cleft palate. INTERVENTION: All patients underwent Furlow palatoplasty. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fiberoptic nasopharyngeal examination and speech analysis. RESULTS: Seven of 8 patients exhibited good palate closure and marked improvement in speech. One patient exhibited good closure but had mild nasal emission and hypernasality, which responded to speech therapy after surgery. CONCLUSION: Furlow palatoplasty is a useful technique for the correction of velopharyngeal insufficiency in selected patients.

Adolescent↗