Speech Rehabilitation in Cleft Palate Surgery

Abstract

An attempt for a simultaneous anatomical closure of a congenital cleft palate with reconstruction of a functionally competent Velopharyngeal sphincter is the ultimate goal of a surgical craftsmanship. Hyper nasality and nasal escape of air are common unwanted stigma associated with a congenital cleft palate. It is a situation where Velophryngeal sphincteric function is incomplete. To overcome such a situation, a surgical reconstruction of a functional Velopharyngeal sphincter is important.

     All 56 patients, who were treated between 1982 to 1985, were of the age group: 2 years to 7 years. Routine closures of the palate with associated palatal lengthening procedures were performed. Attempting pharyngoplasties in a few cases, majority of the patients under-went primary (22%) and secondary (78%) pharyngo-palatoplasties with superiorly based pharyngeal flaps. Improvement in overcoming hyper nasality and nasal escape of air, associated with these palatal defects, was achieved in all cases to a variable extent.