The objectives of this study are to assess the velopharyngeal dimensions using cephalometric variables of the nasopharynx and oropharynx as well as to compare the Le Fort I osteotomy technique to Zisser's anterior maxillary osteotomy technique based on patients' outcomes within early and late postoperative follow-ups. 15 patients with severe maxillary deficiency treated with Le Fort I osteotomy...

OBJECTIVE This study reports a new concept for quantitative analysis of velopharyngeal function using electromagnetic articulography and simultaneous transoral video endoscopy. PARTICIPANTS The velopharyngeal closure mechanism was studied in 16 healthy German subjects during production of the vowel-consonant-vowel sequences /afa/ and /apa/. DESIGN Velar movements in the sagittal and vertica...

OBJECTIVE The aim was to evaluate clinical application of autologous fat transplantation in the posterior pharynx to treat velopharyngeal incompetence and cleft palate. STUDY DESIGN Case series with chart review. SETTING Cleft Lip and Palate Center of Plastic Surgery Hospital, an academic medical center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We studied 11 patients (age, 5-26 years) with a cleft palate and...

Velopharyngeal incompetence is one of the contributing factors for speech disorders. This condition usually follows certain disorders like cleft palate, soft palate paralysis and neurologic disorders. Cleft palate is one of the major contributing factors for the velopharyngeal incompetence. Various treatment modalities have been proposed including prosthetic management, surgical correction and ...

We recently showed respiratory-related coactivation of both extrinsic and intrinsic tongue muscles in the rat. Here, we test the hypothesis that intrinsic tongue muscles contribute importantly to changes in velopharyngeal airway volume. Spontaneously breathing anesthetized rats were placed in a MRI scanner. A catheter was placed in the hypopharynx and connected to a pressure source. Axial and s...

OBJECTIVE Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is a common complication after cleft palate repair, it may be due to lack of levator sling reconstruction and/or palatal shortening. Furlow palatoplasty has the advantages of retro-positioning of levator palati muscles and palatal lengthening. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of Furlow palatoplasty in the treatment of VPI in patients ...

Introduction Velopharyngeal sphincter is a portion of the muscle of the palatopharyngeal arch that is capable of separating the oral cavity from the nasal cavity. It has not been determined yet whether voice intensity has an influence on this capacity. Velopharyngeal sphincter closure is accomplished by elevating and retracting the soft palate at the same time as the nasopharyngeal walls are co...