title: Study of relationship between clinical factors and velopharyngeal closure in cleft palate patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was carried out to analyze the relationship between clinical factors and velopharyngeal closure (VPC) in cleft palate patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chi-square test was used to compare the postoperative velopharyngeal closure rate. Logistic regression model was used to analyze independent variables associated with velopharyngeal closure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Difference of postoperative VPC rate in different cleft types, operative ages and surgical techniques was significant (P=0.000). Results of logistic regression analysis suggested that when operative age was beyond deciduous dentition stage, or cleft palate type was complete, or just had undergone a simple palatoplasty without levator veli palatini retropositioning, patients would suffer a higher velopharyngeal insufficiency rate after primary palatal repair.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cleft type, operative age and surgical technique were the contributing factors influencing VPC rate after primary palatal repair of cleft palate patients.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate, State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Guang-Ning
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Zheng