Adaptation of Tongue Function in Surgically Treated Cleft Patients - Motion Mode Ultrasonographic Study

Aims & Objectives: To assess the functional efficiency and adaptation of tongue musculature in surgically treated cleft Patients by measuring the amplitude of contraction, fractional shortening of tongue musculature and to compare the changes in functional adaptive efficiency following surgery using m-mode ultrasonography. Methods: The study was carried out on 90 cleft patients both with complete (Type 1 47 patients) and incomplete cleft defects (Type 2 43 patients). The patients were divided into 3 groups30 each based on age i.e., Group 1: 5-10 yrs, Group 2: 10-15 years, Group 3: 15-20 yrs Tongue muscle function was evaluated in various phases of swallowingtip, body and basal portions of the tongue using 2-D and M-Mode Ultrasonography and the results were analyzed statistically. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the fractional shortening of tongue musculature during swallowing in surgically treated cleft patients indicating adaptation of tongue function. Conclusion: Te functional efficiency of tongue improved in surgically treated cleft patients which showed that the tongue merely adapts to environmental changes. So, the difficulty in speech in such patients should be attributed primarily to defective mechanisms in velopharyngeal function.