Morphological studies of the velopharyngeal orifice in cleft palate.
Silicone rubber impressions and plaster casts were made preoperatively to evaluate the velopharyngeal orifice areas in 91 children with cleft palate aged one year and two months to two years and five months. Cleft width was large in children with cleft lip and palate (CLP) than in children with cleft palate alone (CP). Velopharyngeal orifices were classified into four types based upon their area and shape. It was concluded that the classification might be useful in planning palatoplasty.
D002675:Child, Preschool; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000473:pathology; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000473:pathology*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology*; D011300:Preoperative Care