Frequency of pharyngoplasty after primary repair of cleft palate in northern Finland.

OBJECTIVE One measure of primary cleft palate repair success is the subsequent need for secondary pharyngoplasty due to velopharyngeal insufficiency. This study aimed to assess primary palatoplasty outcomes and frequency of secondary pharyngoplasty. STUDY DESIGN A total of 138 patients underwent palatoplasty between 1998 and 2011. All patients were treated with 1-stage palatoplasty closing the hard and soft palate concurrently. RESULTS Overall frequency of pharyngoplasty after palatoplasty was 21% of patients. The rate of secondary surgery was significantly higher for girls (27%) than for boys (13%). Patients with cleft lip and palate were more likely to require secondary pharyngoplasty (24%) than the patients with soft and hard cleft palate (20%). Surgical technique and cleft severity were significant factors for secondary surgery. Pharyngoplasty was least common in patients whose palatal clefts were treated at 9 to 12 months of age. CONCLUSIONS The majority of patients undergoing primary palatal repair do not need secondary pharyngoplasty.