R Reiter1, S Brosch, H Wefel, G Schlömer, S Haase. 1. Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Section of Phoniatrics and Pedaudiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. rudolf.reiter@uniklinik-ulm.de
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate age of diagnosis, typical symptoms, finding of the palate, therapy options and accompanying diseases. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 439 patients with symptomatic submucous cleft palate (SMCP), who received a veloplasty operation (butterfly suture technique developed by Haase) was made. RESULTS: SMCP was initially diagnosed at the mean age of 4.9 years. Main symptoms were hyper nasal speech (51%) and conductive hearing loss (45%), which resolved after veloplasty (often in combination with adenotomy and insertion of ventilation tubes). Typical findings of the palate were a lack of posterior nasal spine (68%) and bifid uvula (59%). Following surgery 17.1% required speech therapy and 5.5% needed velopharyngoplasty due to continuing hyper nasal speech. CONCLUSION: SMCP is often diagnosed very late, though symptoms of velopharyngeal insufficiency (hyper nasal speech, Eustachian tube dysfunction) and bifid uvula are present. We therefore recommend that all patients with such findings are examined by an appropriate specialist such as Phoniatrics, Otolaryngologist and Oral-Maxillofacial-Surgeon so that early diagnosis and palatoplasty can be performed. The veloplasty operation (butterfly suture technique) can be recommended as a safe therapy for velopharyngeal insufficiency for patients with symptomatic SMCP.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate age of diagnosis, typical symptoms, finding of the palate, therapy options and accompanying diseases. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 439 patients with symptomatic submucous cleft palate (SMCP), who received a veloplasty operation (butterfly suture technique developed by Haase) was made. RESULTS: SMCP was initially diagnosed at the mean age of 4.9 years. Main symptoms were hyper nasal speech (51%) and conductive hearing loss (45%), which resolved after veloplasty (often in combination with adenotomy and insertion of ventilation tubes). Typical findings of the palate were a lack of posterior nasal spine (68%) and bifid uvula (59%). Following surgery 17.1% required speech therapy and 5.5% needed velopharyngoplasty due to continuing hyper nasal speech. CONCLUSION: SMCP is often diagnosed very late, though symptoms of velopharyngeal insufficiency (hyper nasal speech, Eustachian tube dysfunction) and bifid uvula are present. We therefore recommend that all patients with such findings are examined by an appropriate specialist such as Phoniatrics, Otolaryngologist and Oral-Maxillofacial-Surgeon so that early diagnosis and palatoplasty can be performed. The veloplasty operation (butterfly suture technique) can be recommended as a safe therapy for velopharyngeal insufficiency for patients with symptomatic SMCP.
Authors: Sean B Herman; Tingwei Guo; Donna M McDonald McGinn; Anna Blonska; Alan L Shanske; Anne S Bassett; Eva W C Chow; Mark Bowser; Molly Sheridan; Frits Beemer; Koen Devriendt; Ann Swillen; Jeroen Breckpot; M Cristina Digilio; Bruno Marino; Bruno Dallapiccola; Courtney Carpenter; Xin Zheng; Jacob Johnson; Jonathan Chung; Anne Marie Higgins; Nicole Philip; Tony Simon; Karlene Coleman; Damian Heine-Suner; Jordi Rosell; Wendy Kates; Marcella Devoto; Elaine Zackai; Tao Wang; Robert Shprintzen; Beverly S Emanuel; Bernice E Morrow Journal: Am J Med Genet A Date: 2012-10-03 Impact factor: 2.802
Authors: K H Hanny; I A C de Vries; S J Haverkamp; K P Q Oomen; W M Penris; M J C Eijkemans; M Kon; A B Mink van der Molen; C C Breugem Journal: Eur J Pediatr Date: 2015-08-01 Impact factor: 3.183