Objective evaluation of velopharyngeal function by acoustic reflection measurements.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether acoustic pharyngometry is capable of discriminating velopharyngeal mobility in cleft and non-cleft subjects by determination of epipharyngeal volume changes with active muscle function.


METHODS
Case control study, consecutive sample.


METHODS
Cleft palate rehabilitation centre.


METHODS
Thirty-three consecutive cleft palate patients, among them 10 following pharyngeal flap surgery and 32 controls without velopharyngeal pathology.


METHODS
Transnasal acoustic measurements of airway cross-sectional area in the state of relaxed and tensed pharyngeal muscles. Determination of epipharyngeal volume changes by integrating the difference of the airway profile from the choane for a distance of 5 cm (EV0-5). Measurements of defined changes in the epipharynx served as reference.


RESULTS
Acoustic pharyngometry is capable of discriminating (P < 0.05: U test, Mann-Whitney) the volume effect of velopharyngeal mobility in CP patients (6.5 cm3) from the control group (8.0 cm3). A 'pharyngeal flap type' and a 'non-pharyngeal flap type' of restriction was observed. The individual effect of velopharyngoplasty on pharyngeal mobility can thus be determined.


CONCLUSIONS
Acoustic pharyngometry is a non-invasive, quantitative investigation technique which seems well suited for the evaluation of velopharyngeal mobility. We expect it to be a helpful tool in objectively monitoring the effect of therapeutic intervention on velopharyngeal mobility, and it may provide a better understanding of the pattern of movement in CP patients.
Kunkel
M
M
Klinik für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
Wahlmann
U
U
Wagner
W
W
D000162:Acoustics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000503:physiopathology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery