title: Palatoplasty and growth of the temporal bone mastoid air cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was undertaken to analyze the relationship between the method used for manipulation of the levator veli palatini muscle and the area of the mastoid air cells in patients with cleft palate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 50 patients seen for surgical treatment of cleft palate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Palatoplasty was carried out using the mucosal flap method in 25 patients and the mucoperiosteal flap method in 25 patients. In the mucosal flap method, the levator veli palatini muscle was overlapped and sutured, followed by posterior movement of the muscle bundle (the posterior relocation group). In the mucoperiosteal flap method (the control group), the mucoperiosteal flap was pushed back, followed by end-to-end suturing of the muscle. The area of the mastoid air cells was measured on X-rays when patients were 5 years old.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mastoid air cell area did not differ significantly between the posterior relocation group (mean, 5.00 cm(2); range, 1.66 to 19.7 cm(2)) and the control group (mean, 5.3 cm(2); range, 2.29 to 15.9 cm(2)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant growth of mastoid air cells was noted following posterior relocation of the levator veli palatini muscle. Thus, in cases of cleft palate in which significant growth of mastoid air cells is not expected following reconstruction of the levator veli palatini muscle, the results confirm the view that tympanic ventilation tube insertion is the most suitable method for the treatment of otitis media.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Showa University School of Medicine, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8666, Japan. hitomek@med.showa-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hitome
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakuma
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Terao
authors.forename: Takeyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sanbe
authors.forename: Harumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzaki
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ohkubo
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D010156:Palatal Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013524:Surgical Flaps