title: Analysis of velopharyngeal morphology in adults with velopharyngeal incompetence after surgery of a cleft palate.
abstract: This study analyzed the relationship of velopharyngeal morphology and velopharyngeal function among 13 adults with velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI), 14 adults with velopharyngeal competence (VPC) after primary surgical treatment of cleft palate, and 20 noncleft adults. The measurements included velar length, pharyngeal depth, pharyngeal height, and the need ratio of pharyngeal depth to velar length. In addition, the cranial base, cervical vertebrae, posterior nasal spine, and also the position of the posterior pharyngeal wall (PPW) in the pharyngeal triangle were analyzed. All data were subjected to the Student t test of statistical significance. The results showed that the VPI group had normal pharyngeal depth and a significantly shorter velar length, resulting in a greater depth/length ratio than those of the VPC group and normal control subjects. The position of PPW in the pharyngeal triangle was located significantly more superior in the VPI group compared with the VPC group and normal control subjects. Measurements of the anteroposterior and the vertical dimensions in the regions of the cranial base and cervical vertebrae revealed no significant difference among the 3 groups. According to this study, the velopharyngeal morphology of adults with VPI is characterized by a shorter palate, greater need ratio, slightly counterclockwise-rotated pharyngeal triangle, and superiorly positioned PPW.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Wenlin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*