The role of electromyography in the diagnosis of velopharyngeal insufficiency: our experiences.
The subject of this study is the electromyographic investigation of the velopharyngeal sphincter structures. Seventy-five patients underwent examination, both patients with symptoms of velopharyngeal insufficiency and patients who were thought to have latent pathological sphincter changes based on local findings. A control group of 10 healthy examinees was also investigated. On the basis of electromyographic findings we divided patients into 2 groups: 57 patients without neuromuscular disorders and 18 patients with neuromuscular disorders of the velopharyngeal sphincter. Twelve patients from the latter group had acute, and 6 had chronic lesions of the velopharyngeal sphincter. Particular cases of illness within these 2 groups were investigated further. This study shows the usefulness of electromyography for diagnosing the exact causes of velopharyngeal insufficiency and for choosing the best approach to treatment.
Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology and Pediatric Clinic, Rijeka University Medical School, Croatia.
M
M
Velepic
M
M
Bonifacić
I
I
Lustica
A
A
Sasso
N
N
Cvjetković
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000002:abnormalities; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis*