Magnetic resonance imaging of the levator veli palatini muscle before and after primary palatoplasty.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of patients with cleft palate before and after primary palatoplasty with particular attention focused on the levator veli palatini muscle.


METHODS
Prospective study using MRIs of subjects before and after primary cleft palate surgery.


METHODS
Hospital and university based.


METHODS
One female infant with normal anatomy. Three male and four female infants with cleft palate of varying severity.


METHODS
Furlow double-opposing Z-plasty and V-Y palatoplasty.


METHODS
Magnetic resonance images.


RESULTS
It was found that the levator veli palatini muscle can be imaged before and after palatal surgery in infants using MRI. The muscle may have sufficient volume, proportionate to a normal infant or adult, in infants born with cleft palate. If retrodisplaced properly, the muscle is likely to be steeper (more vertical) from its origin at the base of the skull to its insertion into the velum following palatoplasty, thus providing a more favorable angle for elevating the velum. Following palatal surgery, the levator muscle mass may not be as cohesive across the velar midline, compared with normal musculature.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI is a viable imaging modality for the evaluation of the anatomy of the levator veli palatini muscle before and after primary palatoplasty in infants born with cleft palate.
Kuehn
David P
DP
Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. dkuehn@uiuc.edu
Ettema
Sandra L
SL
Goldwasser
Michael S
MS
Barkmeier
Joseph C
JC
D000284:Administration, Oral; D002697:Chloral Hydrate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010156:Palatal Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D002697:Chloral Hydrate