Alterations in velopharyngeal function after maxillary advancement in cleft palate patients

Velopharyngeal function was assessed aerodynamically prior to surgery and at least 1 year following surgery in 24 cleft palate patients who underwent maxillary advancement. In 5 patients (23%) deterioration and in 5 patients (23%) improvement of velopharyngeal function was observed. In those patients whose velopharyngeal function improved, a pharyngeal flap was in place at surgery. Of the 5 patients whose velopharyngeal function deteriorated, 4 had adequate and 1 borderline adequate velopharyngeal function prior to surgery. In the remaining 14 patients, velopharyngeal function was unchanged. No relationship between the amount of maxillary advancement or the "need ratio" and velopharyngeal function was observed.     

Effect of maxillary advancement on speech and velopharyngeal function of patients with cleft palate: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review (SR) aimed to evaluate speech and velopharyngeal function (VPF) changes of patients with cleft palate (CLP) after maxillary advancement (MA) surgery. A two-phase PROSPERO-registered SR (CRD42019141370) was conducted following the PRISMA statements. Search strategies were developed for main databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, COCHRANE, LILACS, and EBSCOhost) and Grey literature information sources. The GRADE tool was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. From a total of 908 articles, 10 (205 men and 147 women; mean age ranging from 18.0 to 25.7 years) were selected for meta-analysis. Moderate to high risk of bias (Rob) was observed. The most common methods for outcomes evaluation were the Nasometer (speech) and nasoendoscopy (VPF). Speech changed from normal to hypernasal, and VPF worsening were reported in most studies. Comparing maxillary advancement interventions (osteogenic distraction versus Le Fort I), no statistically significant differences were found regarding benefit on speech and VPF. In summary, the effect of MA on speech and VPF remains controversial in CLP patients. The RoB, inconsistencies, and imprecisions severely affected the overall quality of evidence. Further adequately delineated clinical studies are necessary to investigate the potential effect of MA interventions on speech and VPF in CLP patients.     

Treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency after cleft palate repair depending on the velopharyngeal closure pattern

Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is a common problem after cleft palate repair; secondary surgery may be needed to treat this condition. Pharyngeal flap is usually selected for cases with sagittal closure pattern, and sphincter pharyngoplasty is used for cases with coronal closure pattern, whereas cases with circular closure pattern may be puzzling. The objective of this prospective study was to assess the efficacy of tailoring the surgical technique to the preoperative velopharyngeal closure (VPC) pattern and to determine the success of sphincter pharyngoplasty for cases with circular closure pattern.This study was conducted on 48 patients, who presented with postpalatoplasty VPI; the cases were classified into 3 groups according to the VPC: group A of coronal VPC was treated with sphincter pharyngoplasty, group B of sagittal VPC was treated with pharyngeal flap, and group C that exhibited circular VPC was treated with sphincter pharyngoplasty. Speech analysis, nasalance score, and nasopharyngoscopic data were recorded preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. Also, snoring and sleep apnea were assessed.There were no significant differences between the groups regarding the speech, nasometric, and nasopharyngoscopic data. Although snoring was significantly higher after pharyngeal flap, there was no significant difference regarding apnea.Selection of the surgical procedure depending on the type of preoperative VPC pattern for treatment of postpalatoplasty VPI is an appropriate method. In case of circular closure pattern, sphincter pharyngoplasty is the operation of choice as it has a lower incidence of postoperative snoring than pharyngeal flap.     

上颌前徙术后腭咽闭合功能的临床观察

目的　临床观察评价上颌前徙术后腭咽闭合功能变化。方法　对 7例上颌发育不全患者及 3例唇腭裂继发上颌发育不全患者行LeFortI型截骨术前移上颌骨 ,术前术后行鼻咽纤维镜及发“i”音时的头颅侧位片检查 ,结合术前术后语音的评价 ,对上颌前徙术后腭咽闭合及发音的改变进行观察分析。结果　经统计学分析 ,软腭动度、腭咽闭合程度、语音清晰度等指标术前术后比较差异均无显著性。结论　患者术前腭咽闭合功能良好时 ,上颌前徙术后腭咽闭合功能无明显变化     

Maxillary advancement and transpalatal expansion using internal distraction in a patient with cleft lip and palate

Correction of sagittal and transverse maxillary discrepancies in patients with cleft lip or palate remains a challenge for craniofacial surgeons. Distraction osteogenesis has revolutionized the conceptualization and approach to the craniofacial malformations and has become a reliable and irreplaceable part of the surgical armamentarium. We are reporting a case of sequential maxillary advancement and transpalatal expansion using internal distraction in a patient with unilateral cleft lip and palate presenting with severe maxillary sagittal and transverse deficiencies.     

正颌外科手术矫正唇腭裂继发颌骨畸形术后上颌稳定性的研究

目的 探讨正颌外科手术矫正唇腭裂继发颌骨畸形患者术后上颌骨的稳定性及相关影响因素.方法 34例唇腭裂继发上颌骨发育不足的患者,均行改良LeFortⅠ型截骨术前徙上颌骨,其中29例患者同期行BSSRO和/或颏成形术,术后随访时间≥12月.分别在术前、术后即刻及术后随访时拍摄头颅定位侧位片.通过头影测量分析,测量上齿槽座（A）点、后鼻嵴（PNS）点、∠SNA的变化.结果 34例患者术后1年以上（平均19个月）水平向复发率为（20.10±18.09）％;垂直向复发率为（34.78±32.89）％.∠SNA术前平均为77.9°,术后即刻为82.3°,术后1年以上为81.4°.水平向复发率与上颌骨前徙量无相关性（P＞0.05）,但垂直向的复发率与上颌骨下移量呈正相关性（P＜0.05）.通过对15例连续随访患者资料的方差分析提示,上颌骨术后复发主要发生在术后3个月内.结论 唇腭裂患者上颌骨前徙术后具有一定程度的复发,其复发主要发生在术后3个月内.垂直向的复发率与颌骨下移量成正相关.     

A treatment algorithm for secondary cleft palate repair based on age and preoperative velopharyngeal closure ratio

This study aimed to find a surgical treatment algorithm for secondary velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), with Furlow palatoplasty or posterior pharyngeal flap (PPF), balancing speaking and breathing. Non-syndromic cleft palate patients with secondary VPI who underwent Furlow palatoplasty or PPF were reviewed. A multinomial logistic regression model was employed to estimate the association between preoperative variables and surgical outcomes. A series of multinomial logistic regression models was utilized to determine the cut-off value of the significant predictors for subgroup comparison. In total, 203 patients were enrolled, with 73 receiving Furlow palatoplasty and 130 receiving PPF. The surgical outcomes of the two techniques were significantly different (p = 0.005). Age was a significant predictor in all intragroup comparative analyses. Preoperative VCR was associated with postoperative velopharyngeal function in patients undergoing Furlow palatoplasty (p = 0.042). The best cut-off values were an age of 13 years and a VCR of 70%. Surgical outcomes in both group B (age <13, VCR <70%; p = 0.017) and group C (age ≥13, VCR ≥70%; p = 0.003) differed significantly between the two surgical techniques. Within the limitations of the study, it is seems that in patients aging <13 years and with a VCR of ≥70%, Furlow palatoplasty should be preferred whenever appropriate to receive adequate velopharyngeal function.     

Preoperative velopharyngeal closure ratio correlates with Furlow palatoplasty outcome among patients with nonsyndromic submucous cleft palate

This study aimed to explore the preoperative factors that are potentially associated with the outcome of Furlow palatoplasty in treating nonsyndromic submucous cleft palate (SMCP). In this study, we reviewed patients with nonsyndromic SMCP who received Furlow palatoplasty between 2008 and 2017 at our department. A comprehensive panel of preoperative variables was included for analyses including gender, age at operation, concurrence of cleft lip, preoperative hypernasality, nasal emission, velopharyngeal closure ratio (VCR), velopharyngeal closure pattern, velum and pharyngeal wall movement, presence of Passavant Ridge and articulation error. The improvement of velopharyngeal function was considered a good outcome. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to screen the potential predictors of the postoperative velopharyngeal function. Multivariate regression analyses indicated preoperative VCR as the only factor that was significantly associated with surgical outcome (p = 0.025). The receiver operating characteristic curve and Youden index indicated that VCR>52.5% was the cutoff value for predicting preferable postoperative velopharyngeal function (OR, 0.240; 95% IC, 0.059–0.979; p = 0.047). In conclusion, Furlow palatoplasty was recommended for non-syndromic SMCP patient with preoperative VCR>52.5% as the primary surgical treatment.     

完全性唇腭裂婴儿期唇腭裂手术对上颌骨发育的近期影响

目的:观察婴儿早期行唇腭裂手术对完全性唇腭裂患儿上颌骨发育的近期影响.方法: 35 例完全性唇腭裂患儿分为2 组,婴儿期接受唇腭裂手术的20 例为唇腭裂一期修复组,随访时平均年龄(9.99± 0.84) 岁;15 例于婴儿期行唇裂手术未接受腭裂修复的为单纯唇裂修复组,随访时平均年龄(10.24± 1.14) 岁;另20 名无先天性唇腭裂的10 岁龄学童作为正常对照组;3 组分别取头颅侧位片与上牙颌模型,进行测量分析.结果: 2 组唇腭裂患儿之间的上颌骨发育无明显差异,与正常对照组相比较,均有生长抑制.结论:婴儿期行唇腭裂手术的完全性唇腭裂患儿在10 岁左右上颌骨发育与正常儿童存在明显差异,腭裂手术不是引起差异的主要原因,可早期完成该手术.     

语音训练对改善轻度腭咽闭合不全患者发音的研究

目的研究语音训练对轻度腭咽闭合不全（VPI）患者发音的影响。方法选择经咽腔造影检查显示的腭咽部间隙为1～5 mm并且经语音评估诊断为轻度VPI的患者30例设为VPI组,均为在四川大学华西口腔医院唇腭裂外科行腭帆提肌重建术的非综合征型腭裂复诊患者,均于术后进行了3～6个月的语音训练。采用VS-99语音频谱分析系统测定患者在语音训练前和训练后发［i］音时第2、3共振峰的数值F2、F3,并与30例对照组（C组）的测定结果进行比较。结果VPI组语音训练前的F2、F3分别为（1 958.95±431.40）、（3 059.84±330.09）Hz,训练后分别为（2 322.95±213.02）、（3 293.84±215.08）Hz;C组的F2、F3分别为（2 430.47±223.05）、（3 345.97±180.83）Hz。VPI组语音训练前与C组的差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）,语音训练后与C组的差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;语音训练前后VPI组组内比较的差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）,语音训练后高于训练前。结论对于年龄很大才进行腭裂修复的患者,建议术后先实施语音训练,能显著改善腭咽闭合不全,有可能避免再次手术。     

Visual training for velopharyngeal closure in cleft palate patients; a fibrescopic procedure (preliminary report)

Velopharyngeal closure in various tasks was examined in 59 cleft palate patients with persistent velopharyngeal incompetence using nasopharyngeal fibrescopic (NPF) examination. The degree of velopharyngeal closure was analyzed according to the categories reported previously by Yamaoka (1973) and Matsuya et al. (1979). The NPF self-training system was developed and applied to those patients so as to investigate a longitudinal effect of the NPF in velopharyngeal closure mechanism. The training was performed every two weeks for nearly one year. The results indicated that the patient who showed complete velopharyngeal closure during blowing and/or several productions of speech samples could attain a much better improvement in all speech samples after one year of self-training. On the other hand, the patients who did not show complete velopharyngeal closure during all tasks, failed to improve the velopharyngeal closing mechanism. The ability to close the velopharynx during swallowing was seen in all patients examined. However, it appeared to have nothing to do with the prognosis of velopharyngeal closure. The data suggested that the NPF self-training system provided a strong neuro-muscular signal for velopharyngeal movement. Besides, it was considered that the NPF was a useful tool for activation of velopharyngeal activity by way of visual feed-back control.     

Laryngeal airway resistance in cleft palate children with complete and incomplete velopharyngeal closure.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of velopharyngeal insufficiency on aerodynamic measures of laryngeal function in children with cleft palate. DESIGN: Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance. The independent variable was velopharyngeal closure, and the dependent variables were laryngeal resistance, laryngeal airflow, and transglottal pressure. Age and gender were covariates. SETTING: The data were collected at The Craniofacial Center, University of Illinois, a tertiary health care center located in Chicago. PATIENTS: Thirty-six children with cleft palate were recruited from among the patients at The Craniofacial Center. Ten children with velopharyngeal areas >5 mm2 during oral speech were placed in the incomplete closure group, while 26 children with areas <1 mm2 were placed in the complete closure group. OUTCOME MEASURES: The three dependent variables (transglottal pressure, transglottal airflow, and laryngeal resistance) were measured. RESULTS: Laryngeal resistance and transglottal pressure were significantly higher, and transglottal airflow was significantly lower in the group with complete closure. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, cleft palate patients with complete velopharyngeal closure exhibited higher laryngeal resistances than those with incomplete closure.     

A cephalometric study of the relationship between the level of velopharyngeal closure and the palatal plane in patients with repaired cleft palate and controls without clefts

To find out whether the palatal plane is a useful indicator for evaluating the level of velopharyngeal closure, we did a cross-sectional study from early childhood to puberty of the vertical relationship between the palatal plane and the level of velarpharyngeal contact during velopharyngeal functioning in 61 patients with repaired cleft palate (unilateral cleft lip and palate = cleft group) and 82 controls without clefts (control group). Measurements on the vertical dimension were derived from a coordinate system and landmarks on lateral cephalograms, and the significance of differences in measurements was analysed using Student's t-test. Changes in the points of velarpharyngeal contact in relation to the palatal plane with growth showed a consistent tendency though differed between the two groups. In the control group, the PPW (point where palatal plane extension intersects the posterior pharyngeal wall) was maintained at a level that did not differ significantly from the level of midpoint of velarpharyngeal contact during phonation of /a/, and was maintained at a level that did not differ significantly from the level of the inferior point of velarpharyngeal contact. In the cleft group, however, it was maintained at a level that was slightly higher than the superior point of velarpharyngeal contact both during phonation of /a/ and during blowing. These results suggest that the palatal plane is useful as an indicator for evaluating the level of velopharyngeal closure.     

Surgical closure of cleft palate and its immediate effect on the maxillary development]

During the service life of the primary dentition, the direct effects of surgical closure of the palate on the size of the maxilla are unimportant for all types of clefts. Narrowings of more than 1 mm occurred only in the posterior region of the dental arch. Narrowings in the anterior region of the dental arch were observed to a small extent in patients with unilateral and bilateral clefts. There was no difference in the changes of the upper dental arch between one-stage and two-stage closures of the palate.     

Long-term skeletal stability after maxillary advancement with distraction osteogenesis in cleft lip and palate patients: A systematic review

Objective:To systematically review the long-term skeletal stability after maxillary advancement with distraction osteogenesis (DO) in cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients.Materials and Methods:Electronic databases, grey literature, and reference list searches were conducted. The inclusion criteria were stability of maxillary advancement with distraction osteogenesis assessed at the posttreatment follow-up ≥ 1 year in CLP patients. Full articles were retrieved from abstracts or titles that appear to meet the inclusion criteria or lacked sufficient detail for immediate exclusion. Once full articles were collected, they were again reviewed considering more detailed inclusion criteria for a final selection decision. A methodologic quality assessment tool was utilized.Results:Thirty abstracts/titles met the initial search criteria, and 13 articles were finally selected. Overall, methodologic quality scores were high in only one randomized clinical trial. After maxillary advancement with DO in CLP patients, the long-term horizontal relapse in A-point was less than 15% in eight studies and between 20% and 25% in four studies. The study that was judged as a high-quality study reported 8.2% horizontal relapse in A-point. The relapse rate was higher in DO with external distracter device than DO with internal distracter device.Conclusions:Current evidence suggests maxillary advancement with DO has good stability in CLP patients with moderate and severe maxillary hypoplasia.