Endoscopic soft palate augmentation using injectable materials in dogs to ameliorate velopharyngeal insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Velopharyngeal structure augmentation methods are used as alternatives to pharyngeal flap operations. Recently, we investigated the sites of velopharyngeal structure augmentation in dogs and reported that the most effective injection location is the soft palate. However, there have been no reports regarding the optimal materials for implantation or injection. In this study, we aimed to investigate the injectable materials used in soft palate augmentation in dogs to ameliorate velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). METHODS: Endoscopic soft palate augmentation (ESPA) was performed in dogs using purified sodium hyaluronate, atelocollagen, or autogenic fat tissue. ESPA is an original technique developed by our group, and this is the first report of its performance. Moreover, we assessed the amount of nasal air leakage during inspiration at rest and during expiration under the rebreathing system at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months after injection of these materials. RESULTS: The amount of nasal air leakage during expiration under the rebreathing system was significantly decreased in all dogs injected with the ESPA materials, but neither apnea nor hypopnea was observed. CONCLUSIONS: We investigated the optimal materials for use in ESPA, such as purified sodium hyaluronate, atelocollagen, or autogenic fat tissue. We found that all of them reduced nasal air leakage and only autogenic fat tissue showed significant histologic differences in dogs at 6 months. This technique may also be useful for the treatment of patients with VPI.

Palatal evaluation and treatment in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Palatal involvement occurs commonly in patients with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22qDS), and includes palatal clefting and velopharyngeal dysfunction in the absence of overt or submucous clefts. The reported incidence and distribution of palatal abnormalities vary in the literature. The aim of this article is to revisit the incidence and presenting features of palatal abnormalities in a large cohort of patients with 22qDS, summarize the surgical treatments performed in this cohort, and provide an overview of surgical treatment protocols and management guidelines for palatal abnormalities in this syndrome. Charts of 1,121 patients seen through the 22q and You Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia were reviewed for palatal status, demographic factors, deletion size, and corrective surgical procedures. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's chi-squared test to identify differences between gender, deletion size, and palatal abnormality. Of the patients with complete evaluations, 67% were found to have a palatal abnormality. The most common finding was velopharyngeal dysfunction in 55.2% of patients, and in 33.3% of patients, this occurred in the absence of palatal clefting. There was no significant difference in the incidence of palatal abnormalities by gender; however, a difference was noted among race (p < 0.01) and deletion sizes (p < 0.01). For example, Caucasian and Asian patients presented with a much higher prevalence of palatal abnormalities, and conversely those with nested deletions presented with a much lower rate of palatal defects. Overall, 26.9% of patients underwent palatal surgery, and the most common indication was velopharyngeal dysfunction. Palatal abnormalities are a hallmark feature of 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome; understanding the incidence, presenting features, and treatment protocols are essential for practitioners counseling and treating families affected with this disorder.

Evaluation of sites of velopharyngeal structure augmentation in dogs for improvement of velopharyngeal insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Velopharyngeal structure augmentation methods are used as alternatives to velopharyngeal plasty. Anatomic sites of implantation/injection vary widely due to a lack of standardized criteria. Here, we experimentally investigated optimal sites of velopharyngeal structure augmentation via saline injection in dogs as they naturally exhibit velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). METHODS: Velopharyngeal structure augmentation was performed on 10 beagles (age range: 20-24 months; weight range: 9-12 kg). Saline containing 1/80,000 epinephrine was injected intraorally in 1-mL increments into the nasal mucosa of the soft palate (n = 4), posterior pharyngeal wall (n = 3), or bilateral pharyngeal walls (n = 3) of each dog. Nasal air leakage was measured under rebreathing until velopharyngeal closure was achieved; the measurement was performed using flow meter sensors on both nasal apertures, and the oral cavity was filled with alginate impression material to prevent oral air leakage. RESULTS: Pre-injection, the dogs exhibited an average of 0.455 L/s air leakage from the nasal cavity. The dogs with saline injected into the nasal mucosa of the soft palate achieved steady augmentation, and nasal air leakage disappeared under rebreathing following 6-mL saline injection. Conversely, nasal air leakage remained in the dogs with saline injected in the posterior pharyngeal wall or bilateral pharyngeal walls. CONCLUSIONS: During VPI treatment in dogs, augmentation was most effective at the nasal mucosa of the soft palate. Improvement in nasal air leakage was highly dependent on the saline injection volume. Although velopharyngeal structures vary between dogs and humans, velopharyngeal closure style is similar. Thus, our results may aid in the treatment of VPI patients.

GWAS reveals loci associated with velopharyngeal dysfunction.

Velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) occurs when the muscular soft palate (velum) and lateral pharyngeal walls are physically unable to separate the oral and nasal cavities during speech production leading to hypernasality and abnormal speech reduction. Because VPD is often associated with overt or submucous cleft palate, it could be present as a subclinical phenotype in families with a history of orofacial clefting. A key assumption to this model is that the overt and subclinical manifestations of the orofacial cleft phenotype exist on a continuum and therefore share common etiological factors. We performed a genome-wide association study in 976 unaffected relatives of isolated CP probands, 54 of whom had VPD. Five loci were significantly (p < 5 × 10-8) associated with VPD: 3q29, 9p21.1, 12q21.31, 16p12.3 and 16p13.3. An additional 15 loci showing suggestive evidence of association with VPD were observed. Several genes known to be involved in orofacial clefting and craniofacial development are located in these regions, such as TFRC, PCYT1A, BNC2 and FREM1. Although further research is necessary, this could be an indication for a potential shared genetic architecture between VPD and cleft palate, and supporting the hypothesis that VPD is a subclinical phenotype of orofacial clefting.

A TUBB6 mutation is associated with autosomal dominant non-progressive congenital facial palsy, bilateral ptosis and velopharyngeal dysfunction.

Congenital cranial dysinnervation disorders (CCDDs) comprise a heterogeneous spectrum of diseases characterized by congenital, non-progressive impairment of eye, eyelid and/or facial movements including Möbius syndrome, Duane retraction syndrome, congenital ptosis, and congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles. Over the last 20 years, several CCDDs have been identified as neurodevelopmental disorders that are caused by mutations of genes involved in brain and cranial nerve development, e.g. KIF21A and TUBB3 that each plays a pivotal role for microtubule function. In a five-generation pedigree, we identified a heterozygous mutation of TUBB6, a gene encoding a class V tubulin which has not been linked to a human hereditary disease so far. The missense mutation (p.Phe394Ser) affects an amino acid residue highly conserved in evolution, and co-segregates with a phenotype characterized by congenital non-progressive bilateral facial palsy and congenital velopharyngeal dysfunction presenting with varying degrees of hypomimia, rhinophonia, impaired gag reflex and bilateral ptosis. Expression of the mutated protein in yeast led to an impaired viability compared to wildtype cells when exposed to the microtubule-poison benomyl. Our findings enlarge the spectrum of tubulinopathies and emphasize that mutations of TUBB6 should be considered in patients with congenital non-progressive facial palsy. Further studies are needed to verify whether this phenotype is indeed part of the CCDD spectrum.

Cephalometric findings among children with velopharyngeal dysfunction following adenoidectomy-A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To characterise the craniofacial structure by cephalometry, especially the skull base and nasopharyngeal space, in children who underwent adenoidectomy and developed persistent velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD). DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Speech and swallowing clinic of a single academic hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-nine children with persistent VPD following adenoidectomy (mean age 8.0±3.6 years) and a control group of 80 healthy children. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cephalometric landmarks were chosen; craniofacial linear and angular dimensions were measured and analysed. RESULTS: The linear dimensions of the nasopharyngeal area were shorter in the VPD group, S-Ba (41.6±4.2 mm, P<.05) and S-Ptm (42.4±5.1 mm, P<.05). The anterior skull base, N-S, was similar (68.1 mm±6.8). The velum length, Ptm-P was significantly shorter in the VPD group (27.8±4.3 mm, P<.001). The Ba-S-Ptm angle was significantly larger in the VPD group (63.5±5.6°, P<.001). There was no significant difference in cranial base angle (CBA), Ba-S-N, between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cephalometry may provide information regarding persistent postoperative VPD. The nasopharyngeal space angle and velar length appear to be risk factors for persistent VPD after adenoidectomy.

Fisura palatina en la secuencia de Pierre Robin / Palatal cleft in Pierre Robin sequence

Entre los niños que nacen con falta de fusión de la bóveda palatina, un número determinado corresponde a recién nacidos con síndrome de Pierre Robin. Aquí se abre un abanico de pacientes con un grado variable de complejidades y anomalías. Algunos que portan otros síndromes aún más complejos, que padecen la entidad por hipoplasia mandibular, hasta otros que solo poseen una modesta micrognatia que permitió el desarrollo de la secuencia. Si bien la fi sura del paladar es una arista más dentro de anomalías que pueden ser más complejas, debe corregirse a tiempo y de manera efi caz para permitir una adecuada fonación. En este trabajo se presentan, sobre 126 fi surados tratados durante 10 años en un hospital de atención pediátrica privado en Buenos Aires, 17 casos de síndrome de Pierre Robin, así como sus características, edad, sexo, tratamiento, resultados quirúrgicos y foniátricos, y complicaciones.

Between children born with cleft palate, a number of them are newborn with Pierre Robin Syndrome. These have a variety and diff erent degrees of complexity and abnormalities. Added complex syndromes may be found aff ecting them with hypoplasia and others with a slight micrognathia that allowed the development of the sequence. Cleft palate is only one between other abnormalities, but needs and must be corrected effi ciently on time to allow proper phonation. A number of 126 cleft palate patients treated and followed during 10 years in a private childrens hospital, in Buenos Aires, are included, and between them, 17 have Pierre Robin sequence. Their age, sex, treatment, surgical results and phonetic results are included.

Craniofacial structure variations in patients with palatal anomalies and velopharyngeal dysfunction.

PURPOSE: Cephalometric evaluation of craniofacial and craniopharyngeal morphology is important for understanding the factors affecting velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) in patients with palatal anomalies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 366 patients with VPD were retrospectively stratified into cleft lip and palate (CLP), cleft palate (CP), submucous cleft palate (SMCP), occult submucous cleft palate (OSMCP), and non-CP groups. Lateral cephalometrics were used to assess craniofacial, craniopharyngeal, and velopharyngeal anatomy. RESULTS: The average craniofacial morphology in patients with VPD differed significantly according to the type of palatal anomaly. The non-CP and OSMCP groups differed from the CLP, CP, and SMCP groups in nasopharyngeal size and shape as depicted by a larger ANS-Ptm-Ve angle, a smaller S-N-Ba and NBa-PP angles, and a shorter linear value of S-Ar in the non-CP group. The CLP and CP groups had shorter ANS-Ptm, shorter Ptm-P, and smaller SNA and SNB angles. CONCLUSION: VPD patients with overt clefts have different skeletal and nasopharyngeal shapes compared to non-CP and OSMCP. Velopharyngeal function assessment should include the size and shape of the nasopharyngeal space in addition to the size and the activity of the velum and posterior and lateral walls of the nasopharynx. This should enable a more precise understanding of VPD pathology, and lead to improvements in the posterior pharyngeal flap technique in order to obtain better postoperative speech outcomes after surgical management of velopharyngeal dysfunction.

Contributions of the Musculus Uvulae to Velopharyngeal Closure Quantified With a 3-Dimensional Multimuscle Computational Model.

The convexity of the dorsal surface of the velum is critical for normal velopharyngeal (VP) function and is largely attributed to the levator veli palatini (LVP) and musculus uvulae (MU). Studies have correlated a concave or flat nasal velar surface to symptoms of VP dysfunction including hypernasality and nasal air emission. In the context of surgical repair of cleft palates, the MU has been given relatively little attention in the literature compared with the larger LVP. A greater understanding of the mechanics of the MU will provide insight into understanding the influence of a dysmorphic MU, as seen in cleft palate, as it relates to VP function. The purpose of this study was to quantify the contributions of the MU to VP closure in a computational model. We created a novel 3-dimensional (3D) finite element model of the VP mechanism from magnetic resonance imaging data collected from an individual with healthy noncleft VP anatomy. The model components included the velum, posterior pharyngeal wall (PPW), LVP, and MU. Simulations were based on the muscle and soft tissue mechanical properties from the literature. We found that, similar to previous hypotheses, the MU acts as (i) a space-occupying structure and (ii) a velar extensor. As a space-occupying structure, the MU helps to nearly triple the midline VP contact length. As a velar extensor, the MU acting alone without the LVP decreases the VP distance 62%. Furthermore, activation of the MU decreases the LVP activation required for closure almost 3-fold, from 20% (without MU) to 8% (with MU). Our study suggests that any possible salvaging and anatomical reconstruction of viable MU tissue in a cleft patient may improve VP closure due to its mechanical function. In the absence or dysfunction of MU tissue, implantation of autologous or engineered tissues at the velar midline, as a possible substitute for the MU, may produce a geometric convexity more favorable to VP closure. In the future, more complex models will provide further insight into optimal surgical reconstruction of the VP musculature in normal and cleft palate populations.

Calcium Hydroxylapatite Injection for Persistent Velopharyngeal Insufficiency after Sphincter Pharyngoplasty.

BACKGROUND: The role of calcium hydroxylapatite injection pharyngoplasty after failed sphincter pharyngoplasty surgery has not previously been described. We report our technique of injecting calcium hydroxylapatite into the pharyngoplasty site to add bulk to specific areas of the velopharyngeal port. METHODS: A retrospective review of children undergoing calcium hydroxylapatite injection pharyngoplasty for persistent velopharyngeal insufficiency after sphincter pharyngoplasty was performed. Our surgical technique is described. Outcome measures included postoperative perceptual assessment of resonance, improvement in phoneme-specific nasometry scores, and rate of revision surgery. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were included in the study. Improvement in hypernasality on perceptual assessment was noted in the majority of children (85.7%). The rate of achievement of normal resonance on perceptual analysis was 35.7%. A significant decrease in nasometry scores was noted for the following phonemes: /pa/, /sa/, /sha/, and /pi/. There were no intraoperative complications or immediate postoperative complications associated with calcium hydroxylapatite injection. CONCLUSIONS: Our early experience suggests that calcium hydroxylapatite injection after failed sphincter pharyngoplasty is a safe, minimally invasive technique with favorable short-term results.

Preoperative velopharyngeal morphology in older cleft palate patients with postoperative velopharyngeal closure versus velopharyngeal insufficiency.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the preoperative morphology of velopharyngeal structures in older patients with cleft palate and to evaluate which structure(s) could distinguish velopharyngeal function. The investigators implemented a retrospective study and 66 patients whose palate was repaired by 1 surgeon with the same technique were selected, including 38 boys and 28 girls, aged from 5 years and 1 month to 28 years and 6 months. All these patients were taken lateral preoperative cephalograms at rest and during phonation of /i/. Fifteen lengths, 3 ratios, and 1 angle variable were defined in this study. The follow-up time was from 3 months to 12 months. All these measurements were analyzed by independent samples t test and discriminant analysis in a stepwise method, while P value was set at 0.05. In this study, there were 30 patients with velopharyngeal closure (VPC) and 36 patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) after surgery. Differences in velar length, posterior velar length, pharyngeal height, hard-soft palatal angle, and pharyngeal height-depth ratio were significantly different at rest, while all the measurements during phonation were not significantly different. Discriminant analysis showed that the VPC group could be discriminated from the VPI group primarily on the basis of velar length, pharyngeal depth, and VP ratio, of which the correlation ratio was 0.963 and the discriminant rate was 100%. Therefore, the results suggested not only velar length and pharyngeal depth but also pharyngeal height significantly affected the formation of normal velopharyngeal function. Furthermore, there was a strong prognostic significance of preoperative velar length, pharyngeal depth, and VP ratio for postoperative velopharyngeal function.

A preliminary study on the characteristics of the velopharyngeal structures in different-age patients with cleft palate.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the developmental tendency of velopharyngeal structures in different-age patients with cleft palate (CP) to provide reference for selecting surgery in clinic. The investigators implemented a retrospective study, and 66 patients were selected, including 38 boys and 28 girls (average age, 15 years 5 months ± 7 years). These patients were divided into 3 groups (G1, G2, and G3) according to their ages and were taken lateral preoperative cephalograms at rest and during phonation of /i/. Twelve lengths and 3 ratios variables were defined in this study. All these measurements were analyzed by analysis of variance and post hoc test, whereas P value was set at 0.05. There were significant differences of velar thickness and height, vertical velar length, pharyngeal height and depth, uvular pharyngeal depth, and hard palate length and height. Except velar height and vertical velar length of which the differences were only significant between G1 and G2, the difference of the others was significant between G1 and G2, and G1 and G3. In conclusion, velar thickness and posterior velar length increased significantly before 20 years old, whereas the motility of velar muscles between 12 years old and 20 years old was weaker. Growths of maxilla in vertical and horizontal dimension were faster before 20 years old. Besides, height-depth ratio was increasing with increase in age.

Autologous fat injection combined with palatoplasty and pharyngoplasty for velopharyngeal insufficiency and cleft palate: preliminary experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate clinical application of autologous fat transplantation in the posterior pharynx to treat velopharyngeal incompetence and cleft palate. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Cleft Lip and Palate Center of Plastic Surgery Hospital, an academic medical center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied 11 patients (age, 5-26 years) with a cleft palate and velopharyngeal insufficiency who underwent autologous fat injection. Patients were followed for 9 to 40 months. Pronunciation evaluation, visual appearance of the palatopharyngeal area, nasopharyngeal fibroscopy (NPF), palatopharyngeal lateral radiography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were undertaken before and after the operation. RESULTS: Speech intelligibility was markedly increased in all patients. Pronunciation was good to excellent compared with the preoperative level (P = .001). Mean velopharyngeal insufficiency rate was significantly reduced from 26.05% to 6.96% (P = .028) by NPF and from 26.42% to 7.11% (P = .017) by MRI (axial plane). Magnetic resonance imaging indicated significantly reduced mean minimum velopharyngeal distance, from 10.39 to 3.65 mm (P = .012) in the sagittal plane, and markedly increased thickness of transplanted fat in the posterior pharyngeal wall (sagittal, 5.43 mm; axial, 4.74 mm). There were few complications (sleep apnea, nasopharyngeal regurgitation). CONCLUSION: Autologous fat transplantation in the posterior pharyngeal wall was a good method for treating velopharyngeal incompetence. The safety profile was good in our sample, and we got a consistent result in the follow-up period. In addition, it also could be combined with routine surgery.

Nasalance change after sinonasal surgery: analysis of voice after septoturbinoplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery.

BACKGROUND: Changes in nasalance caused by resonance change after endonasal surgeries have been reported in prior studies. In clinical practice, although patients often complain of a nasal voice just after surgery, their voices recover over time. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term nasalance changes before and after endonasal surgery. METHODS: Patients who underwent sinonasal surgery at Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital between March 2009 and July 2011 were included in this study. We classified the subjects into three groups according to the surgeries they underwent: group 1, the septoturbinoplasty group; group 2, the endoscopic sinus surgery group; and group 3, the septoturbinoplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery group. We checked acoustic profiles, Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain (GRBAS) scores, and nasalance using a nasometer before and after the sinonasal surgery. RESULTS: When considering multidimensional voice program results, no observed parameters showed statistically meaningful changes before or after the operation in all three groups. GRBAS scales in all patients changed less than two scales postoperatively. Nasalance increased at 1 month after the operation in all groups. However, it returned to original levels with time: 3 months in group 2 and 6 months in groups 1 and 3. CONCLUSION: Sinonasal surgery can change the acoustic characteristics of the vocal tract and produce a significant increase in nasality in the early phase. However, after proper healing of the nasal cavity, nasality was observed to become similar to the preoperative level. Therefore, patients, especially voice professionals, do not need to be wary of voice changes after sinonasal surgery.

In search of the optimal surgical treatment for velopharyngeal dysfunction in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Patients with the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22qDS) and velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) tend to have residual VPD following surgery. This systematic review seeks to determine whether a particular surgical procedure results in superior speech outcome or less morbidity. METHODOLOGY/ PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A combined computerized and hand-search yielded 70 studies, of which 27 were deemed relevant for this review, reporting on a total of 525 patients with 22qDS and VPD undergoing surgery for VPD. All studies were levels 2c or 4 evidence. The methodological quality of these studies was assessed using criteria based on the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias. Heterogeneous groups of patients were reported on in the studies. The surgical procedure was often tailored to findings on preoperative imaging. Overall, 50% of patients attained normal resonance, 48% attained normal nasal emissions scores, and 83% had understandable speech postoperatively. However, 5% became hyponasal, 1% had obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and 17% required further surgery. There were no significant differences in speech outcome between patients who underwent a fat injection, Furlow or intravelar veloplasty, pharyngeal flap pharyngoplasty, Honig pharyngoplasty, or sphincter pharyngoplasty or Hynes procedures. There was a trend that a lower percentage of patients attained normal resonance after a fat injection or palatoplasty than after the more obstructive pharyngoplasties (11-18% versus 44-62%, p = 0.08). Only patients who underwent pharyngeal flaps or sphincter pharyngoplasties incurred OSA, yet this was not statistically significantly more often than after other procedures (p = 0.25). More patients who underwent a palatoplasty needed further surgery than those who underwent a pharyngoplasty (50% versus 7-13%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS/ SIGNIFICANCE: In the heterogeneous group of patients with 22qDS and VPD, a grade C recommendation can be made to minimize the morbidity of further surgery by choosing to perform a pharyngoplasty directly instead of only a palatoplasty.

Anatomy and physiology of the velopharyngeal mechanism.

Understanding the normal anatomy and physiology of the velopharyngeal mechanism is the first step in providing appropriate diagnosis and treatment for children born with cleft lip and palate. The velopharyngeal mechanism consists of a muscular valve that extends from the posterior surface of the hard palate (roof of mouth) to the posterior pharyngeal wall and includes the velum (soft palate), lateral pharyngeal walls (sides of the throat), and the posterior pharyngeal wall (back wall of the throat). The function of the velopharyngeal mechanism is to create a tight seal between the velum and pharyngeal walls to separate the oral and nasal cavities for various purposes, including speech. Velopharyngeal closure is accomplished through the contraction of several velopharyngeal muscles including the levator veli palatini, musculus uvulae, superior pharyngeal constrictor, palatopharyngeus, palatoglossus, and salpingopharyngeus. The tensor veli palatini is thought to be responsible for eustachian tube function.

Craniometric and velopharyngeal assessment of infants with and without cleft palate.

BACKGROUND: The current study was designed to obtain qualitative and quantitative information of the velopharyngeal mechanism and craniometric dimensions in infants born with a normal mechanism and in infants with an unrepaired cleft palate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained from the medical charts of 4 infants (2 with cleft lip and palate and 2 without) between the ages of 8 and 9 months. Craniometric measures and levator veli palatini muscle morphology were analyzed using visualization modeling software. Both raw measures and measures normalized by head circumference were examined. RESULTS: Patients 1 and 2 demonstrated normal velopharyngeal anatomy and a similar distance between levator muscle origins (38.9-40.7 mm), sagittal angles of origin (56-57 degrees), and levator muscle bundle lengths (28.4-30.7 mm). Patients with an unrepaired cleft palate displayed smaller oblique coronal angles of origins (58-62 degrees) compared with patients without cleft palate (62-67 degrees). Patients without cleft palate showed a steeper muscle (56-57 degrees) compared with patients without cleft palate (66-67 degrees). The basion-sella-nasion angle, hard palate length, and hard palate width measurements are related systematically to head circumference in this patient group. DISCUSSION: Results from the current study are in agreement with previous studies demonstrating variations across patients with cleft palate particularly in the muscle bundle lengths, distance between muscle origins, velar thickness, and velar length. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine how levator muscle and craniometric dimensions vary between those with and without cleft palate. A larger sample size is necessary to provide statistical analysis.

Atrophy among mucosa-only versus muscular mucosa superiorly based pharyngeal flaps: a pilot animal study.

BACKGROUND: Velopharyngeal insufficiency is frequently managed surgically via the superiorly based pharyngeal flap procedure. The flap used in this procedure traditionally consists of both mucosa and muscle. Although muscle is included to potentially increase survival and tissue bulk, its inclusion may result in postoperative dysfunction of pharyngeal sidewall motion. Although the benefits of pharyngeal flap surgery are established, the denervated muscular portion of the flap appears to atrophy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a flap consisting entirely of mucosa provides the same tissue bulk as a conventional pharyngeal flap 12 weeks postoperatively. METHODS: Ten laboratory-grade cats served as direct patient surrogates. Cats were randomized to undergo a superiorly based pharyngeal flap procedure with flaps composed of either both muscle and mucosa (n = 5) or mucosa only (n = 5). Blinded volumetric analysis was performed by three board-certified neuroradiologists using magnetic resonance imaging of the pharynx immediately after surgery and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. RESULTS: At 12 weeks postoperatively, pharyngeal flaps composed of both mucosa and muscle atrophied to reach volumetric equivalence with mucosa-only flaps. Evaluation of final pharyngeal flap volume demonstrated no statistical differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates equivalent final superiorly based pharyngeal flap tissue bulk for flaps composed of only mucosa when compared with conventional pharyngeal flaps. Thus, the mucosa-only pharyngeal flap may yield similar outcomes while potentially providing for an earlier return of normal pharyngeal function.