Cephalometric findings among children with velopharyngeal dysfunction following adenoidectomy-A retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To characterise the craniofacial structure by cephalometry, especially the skull base and nasopharyngeal space, in children who underwent adenoidectomy and developed persistent velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD).


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Speech and swallowing clinic of a single academic hospital.


METHODS
Thirty-nine children with persistent VPD following adenoidectomy (mean age 8.0±3.6 years) and a control group of 80 healthy children.


METHODS
Cephalometric landmarks were chosen; craniofacial linear and angular dimensions were measured and analysed.


RESULTS
The linear dimensions of the nasopharyngeal area were shorter in the VPD group, S-Ba (41.6±4.2 mm, P<.05) and S-Ptm (42.4±5.1 mm, P<.05). The anterior skull base, N-S, was similar (68.1 mm±6.8). The velum length, Ptm-P was significantly shorter in the VPD group (27.8±4.3 mm, P<.001). The Ba-S-Ptm angle was significantly larger in the VPD group (63.5±5.6°, P<.001). There was no significant difference in cranial base angle (CBA), Ba-S-N, between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Cephalometry may provide information regarding persistent postoperative VPD. The nasopharyngeal space angle and velar length appear to be risk factors for persistent VPD after adenoidectomy.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Center for Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.
F
F
Kassem
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Center for Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.
Y
Y
Ebner
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Center for Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.
B
B
Nageris
Clinic and Policlinics for Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases of Bavarian Julius-Maximilian University Wuerzburg, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
N
N
Watted
Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Pediatric Otolaryngology Unit, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.
A
A
DeRowe
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Center for Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.|Faculty of Communication Disorders, Hadassah Academic College, Jerusalem, Israel.
A
A
Nachmani
D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019291:Skull Base / Q000473:pathology*; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*
adenoidectomy; cephalometry; craniofacial morphology; palate; velopharyngeal dysfunction