title: A cephalometric study of the stability of the base of the pharyngeal flap following a modified 'unified velopharyngoplasty procedure'.
abstract: A cephalometric study was conducted on 12 patients with repaired cleft palate to evaluate the stability in level and length of the base attachment of the velopharyngeal complex following pharyngeal flap surgery by a modified velopharyngoplasty. Complete velopharyngeal closure and normal articulation with a speech appliance were confirmed in all patients prior to pharyngeal flap surgery, which was performed on patients 10 years of age and above. Cephalometric radiographs were taken immediately, 1 year, 2 years and 3 years postoperatively. Cephalometric analysis revealed that although the level and length of the base of the velopharyngeal complex showed changes during the first postoperative year, they remained stable when compared with the palatal plane during the last two years. This indicated therefore that the base of a velopharyngoplasty should be attached at the same level of the palatal plane, namely the level of velopharyngeal closure, and that the procedure appeared useful in producing a stable velopharyngeal complex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Miyazaki Medical College, Kiyotake, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tachimura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakoda
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shiba
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D004724:Endoscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010159:Palate / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010699:Phonation / Q000502:physiology; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology