Combined radial forearm and pharyngeal flap for soft palate reconstruction

The use of a free vascularised fascio-cutaneous radial forearm flap in combination with a cranially based pharyngeal flap for soft palate reconstruction has not been previously reported. We present the technique and illustrate its use in two cases of total and one case of subtotal soft palate reconstruction. The functional outcome is discussed with particular reference to nasal airway patency, speech and swallowing.     

The combined rehabilitation of patients with congenital clefts of the hard and soft palate

Effective speech rehabilitation of patients with complete clefts of the hard and soft palate can be achieved by multiple-modality treatment including logopedic training, surgical intervention, electrostimulation of the palatal and perioral muscles and nerves. Use of such treatment in 50 patients has cut down the periods of treatment from 6-7 to 2.5-4 months.     

Reconstruction of the hard palate in congenital clefts

Cleft palate advancement is linked with the new bone regeneration after palate and alveolar process osteotomy and underdeveloped palatal process of the jaw moving to a normal anatomy position.     

Polydimethylsiloxane button obturator for hard palate clefts

A polydimethylsiloxane obturator for hard palate clefts is described. Because it is soft, the obturator uses anatomic undercuts of the nasal cavity for maximum retention and stability. The obturator covers only a small part of the palate. The material is nontoxic and noncarcinogenic.     

Repair of surgical clefts of the hard palate in beagles

The biological responses to the repair of palatal clefts has been evaluated principally by monitoring craniofacial growth. Little is known about the regenerative ability of the repaired palate. In the present study, 18 Beagle pups (51 to 58 days old) were assigned to one of three groups: (1) control group, having no surgery; (2) cleft group, having a surgically created cleft of the posterior hard palate (mean bony measurement: 3.1 x 11.7 mm) at 8 weeks of age; and (3) repaired group, same as group 2, and followed by soft-tissue closure at 12 weeks of age. Craniofacial growth was monitored by cephalometric and dental cast measurements. Records were taken at 6-week intervals. Animals were sacrificed either 16 or 28 weeks after time of cleft creation. Routine histologic examination and histochemical detection of alkaline phosphatase activity were performed to examine the quality and extent of soft-tissue repair and bone formation. Analysis of the cleft palate group revealed that the size of the bony cleft increased with time. The histologic examination demonstrated at 24 weeks of age (12 weeks after the repair) active reduction of medial margin of the bony palate as evidenced by osteoclastic activity. At 36 weeks of age, neither osteoblastic nor osteoclastic activity was detected. The mean dimensions of the bony cleft, in the cleft group at 36 weeks, were 7.9 x 18.8 mm. In the repaired group, partial bone repair occurred. However, no consistency was seen in predicting extent or location of repair. Histochemical detection of alkaline phosphatase activity indicated that the repaired group had greater amounts of new bone formation. In some sites, suture regeneration was seen. As with the amount of bone formation, the amount of suture regeneration was variable. This study revealed that the presence of a cleft inhibits osteoblastic activity along the margin of the cleft, and there is limited potential for regeneration of the palate subsequent to the repair.     

Pathosis of the hard and soft palate.

In this article a few of the more recently emphasized and pertinent conditions that may affect the hard and soft palate have been discussed. The purpose of the article is not to present in all-inclusive classification of lesions occurring the palate. Disease of the palate may be local in nature or may reflect a systemic condition. Dentists must be conscious of the palate as the site of many possible pathoses. The prosthodontist in particular must observe and carefully evaluate the palate and insure its good health before he can prescribe a prosthesis to cover it. Dentistry provides a health service which affects the entire human organism and not just the oral cavity. Therefore an understanding of the varied nature of pathosis as it relates to the oral cavity, and especially the palate, is essential. Continuous surveillance of the palatal regions insures that the dentist's obligation to detect oral abnormalities in patients is in large measure fulfilled.     

Dental occlusion after Veau-Wardill-Kilner versus minimal incision technique repair of isolated clefts of the hard and soft palate.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the Veau-Wardill-Kilner technique with a technique similar to the minimal incision technique described by Mendosa et al. on the basis of surgical complications and dentoalveolar status in the deciduous dentition. DESIGN: Retrospective study of medical and dental records and casts. PATIENTS: A consecutive series of 129 Caucasian children born with isolated cleft palate between 1980 and 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: From medical records, the variables of time for surgery, blood loss, complications in the immediate postoperative period, and frequency of fistulas were evaluated. On dental casts, the variables of sagittal, transversal, and vertical relations; structure of the palatal mucosa; and height of the palatal vault were studied. RESULTS: Time for surgery was shorter in the extensive clefts repaired with a Veau-Wardill-Kilner technique. Blood loss was higher using the Veau-Wardill-Kilner technique. The width of the upper jaw was significantly narrower in the Veau-Wardill-Kilner group, compared with the minimal incision group. Scar tissue and pits of the palate were more frequently found in the Veau-Wardill-Kilner group. CONCLUSIONS: The minimal incision technique in this study has been shown to result in better development of the upper jaw with a better dental occlusion and palatal mucosa with significantly less scar tissue.     

咽后壁瓣断蒂对腭咽闭合影响的探讨

目的 探讨咽后壁瓣成形术后腭咽闭合功能不全(velopharyngeal insufficiency,VPI)及其并发症阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(OSAHS)治疗中咽后壁瓣断蒂的作用.方法 1993至2008年于北京大学口腔医学院·口腔医院唇腭裂治疗中心接受咽后壁瓣断蒂术患者20例(不完全腭裂11例、完全性唇腭裂9例),20例断蒂术前均行鼻咽纤维镜、头颅定位侧位X线片检查及语音录音,对有OSAHS主述者行睡眠呼吸监测.全部患者术后48 h后进行语音评价.术中单纯断蒂14例,断蒂后重新改变咽成形术式6例.结果 ①14例成形术后语音改善不明显,仍存在过高鼻音,咽后壁瓣断蒂术后语音改善明显;②3例成形术后虽发音正常但出现呼吸道阻塞症状,断蒂术后呼吸睡眠状况改善,语音仍正常;③3例成形术后发音正常,因正颌手术的麻醉需要断蒂,断蒂后的语音无明显改变.结论 咽后壁瓣成形术后出现OSAHS或仍存在VPI,需手术断蒂或其他类型咽成形术治疗;断蒂的时间应在咽后壁瓣成形术半年后.     

Prosthetic reconstruction following resection of the hard and soft palate.

The restoration of the soft palate presents a challenge completely different from that of the hard palate. The mobility of the soft palate tends to interfere with velar extensions. The reduction in size of the soft palate extension to prevent impingement upon the mobile margins of the defect will lead to insufficient oronasal separation during functional activities. The solution is to construct a specially designed prosthesis to attain the maximum utilization of the remaining structures and their motility. Although each pharyngeal extension is different in shape, they give the patient an effective functional mechanism that enhances speech and swallowing.     

The surgical treatment of patients with extensive defects of the soft palate

A modified technique of velopharyngoplasty is described, involving preliminary epithelialization of the total wound surface of the musculomucous flap and the newly formed wound defect on the posterior wall of the pharynx by submerged skin transplantation. The results of treatment of 12 patients with various types of postoperative extensive defects of the soft palate demonstrate a high efficacy of the developed technique.     

A method for the surgical treatment of unilateral clefts of the hard and soft palates]

Uranostaphyloplasty method is suggested for cases with unilateral total palatal clefts. It consists in closure of the hard palate defect without cutting mucoperiosteal grafts in it, soft palate defect closure by effective retro-transposition of the corner flaps cut out at the border between the hard and soft palate.