The case for the inferiorly based posterior pharyngeal flap.

The superiorly based and inferiorly based posterior pharyngeal flaps are compared. Reasons for choosing one or the other in specific cases are given. The complications with each are enumerated. The results obtained in speech comparing the two flaps in two retrospective series and one prospective series of cases failed to show a significant difference between them. Therefore, with little difference in the results and some good reasons for preferring one or the other under certain conditions, it would seem logical to select the one best suited for the particular problem.