Revision Palatoplasty for Velopharyngeal Dysfunction Using Bilateral Buccal Myomucosal Flaps: An Assessment of Speech Outcomes

Between 5% and 20% of patients following primary palatoplasty have velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) resulting in hypernasal speech. Common operations to treat this include pharyngeal flap and sphincter pharyngoplasty. Both of these procedures change the anatomy of the velopharyngeal port and carry the risk of obstructive sleep apnea and/or hyponasal speech. As an alternative to avoid these risks, revision palatoplasty using bilateral buccal flaps (RPBBF) has received increased attention.1 The aim of this study is to assess the perceptual, acoustic, and aerodynamic characteristics of speech before and after RPBBF to treat VPD and evaluate postoperative complications.
Source: Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Tags: Pediatrics and Cleft Abstract Session Source Type: research