Variations in Velopharyngeal Structure in Adults With Repaired Cleft Palate

Overview

Journal Cleft Palate Craniofac J

Specialties Dentistry
General Surgery

Date 2018 Jan 23

PMID 29356620

Citations 13

Authors

Jamie L Perry

Katelyn J Kotlarek

Bradley P Sutton

David P Kuehn

Michael S Jaskolka

Xiangming Fang

Stuart W Point

Frank Rauccio

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in velopharyngeal structures between adults with repaired cleft palate and normal resonance and adults without cleft palate.

Design: Thirty-six English-speaking adults, including 6 adults (2 males and 4 females) with repaired cleft palate (M = 32.5 years of age, SD = 17.4 years) and 30 adults (15 males and 15 females) without cleft palate (M = 23.3 years of age, SD = 4.1 years), participated in the study. Fourteen velopharyngeal measures were obtained on magnetic resonance images and compared between groups (cleft and noncleft).

Results: After adjusting for body size and sex effects, there was a statistically significant difference between groups for 10 out of the 14 velopharyngeal measures. Compared to those without cleft palate, participants with repaired cleft palate had a significantly shorter hard palate height and length, shorter levator muscle length, shorter intravelar segment, more acute levator angles of origin, shorter and thinner velum, and greater pharyngeal depth.

Conclusion: Although significant differences were evident in the cleft palate group, individuals displayed normal resonance. These findings suggest that a wide variability in velopharyngeal anatomy can occur in the presence of normal resonance, particularly for those with repaired cleft palate. Future research is needed to understand how anatomic variability impacts function, such as during speech.

Citing Articles

Growth and Symmetry of the Levator Veli Palatini Muscle Within the First Two Years of Life.

Kotlarek K, Levene S, Piccorelli A, Allen G, Barhaghi K, Neuberger I Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2024; 61(11):1803-1813.

PMID: 39434629 PMC: 11496766. DOI: 10.1177/10556656231183776.

The Levator Veli Palatini: Are all Segments Created Equal?.

Perry J, Snodgrass T, Gilbert I, Williams J, Singh D, Sitzman T Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2024; 62(1):28-34.

PMID: 39136069 PMC: 11581906. DOI: 10.1177/10556656241271666.

Clinical efficacy of Hogan posterior pharyngeal flap in repairing velopharyngeal insufficiency secondary to cleft palate in older patients.

Dong Z, Xie Y, Yang J, Fu Y, Li J Hua Xi Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2024; 41(6):713-718.

PMID: 38597038 PMC: 10722449. DOI: 10.7518/hxkq.2023.2023155.

Measurement Matters: MRI Analysis of Differing Anatomic Measurement Techniques for Velar Length and the Velopharyngeal Needs Ratio.

Mason K, Hanson B, Black J Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2024; 12(2):e5617.

PMID: 38375369 PMC: 10876255. DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000005617.

The Pediatric Neuroradiologist's Practical Guide to Capture and Evaluate Pre- and Postoperative Velopharyngeal Insufficiency.

Kuwabara M, Sitzman T, Szymanski K, Perry J, Miller J, Cornejo P AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2024; 45(1):9-15.

PMID: 38164545 PMC: 10756579. DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8055.

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