Results of palatoplasty using a mucosal flap in isolated cleft palate at our department: Maxillofacial growth and velopharyngeal closure at 6 years of age

Objective To evaluate maxillofacial growth and velopharyngeal function in patients with isolated cleft palate who had undergone palatoplasty using a mucosal flap. Methods Measurements from lateral cephalograms taken at age 6 years of 44 patients (mucosal flap group) were obtained and compared with data reported in the literature for approximately age-matched children without cleft palate. We also compared maxillofacial growth in a subgroup analysis based on the anteroposterior length of the palatal bone defect. In addition, we examined velopharyngeal function at age 5–6 years. Results Compared with the non-cleft group, the mucosal flap group had a shorter anteroposterior length of the anterior base of the skull, shorter maxillary alveolar base, shorter mandibular body, shorter posterior maxillary height, and posteroinferior rotation of the mandible. In the mucosal flap group, the anteroposterior length of the maxillary alveolar base was shorter when the palatal bone defect extended anteriorly than when it was limited to the posterior region. In the mucosal flap group, 88.6 % had favorable velopharyngeal function. In patients who developed anterior fistula after palatoplasty, expiratory nasal emission could be reduced using a speech plate. Conclusions Use of a mucosal flap during palatoplasty is useful from the perspective of maxillofacial growth and velopharyngeal function in patients with isolated cleft palate.