Palatal pushback and lateral pharyngoplasty in surgical management of submucous cleft palate

Summary

The methods and the results of palatal pushback and lateral pharyngoplasty on SMCP were described. Of 26 patients with VP incompetence followed up for more than 6 months after operation, 23 (88%) improved at average 2.9 postoperative months (0.5 ∼ 8 months) and three were unchanged at 7, 10, and 24 postoperative months. In these three patients their VP sphincter orifice was more than 10 mm². It was, therefore, considered necessary to decide to construct the VP sphincter orifice size between approximately 10 and 12 mm. Anatomical condition and VP closure in SMCP were markedly variable from patient to patient. Cases with marked anatomical variation or poor prognosis through speech training must undergo operation as early as possible.