Abstract:

Objective The objective of this study is to investigate, using the lateral cephalometry, the morphological diversity of the soft palate in individuals after palatoplasty including patients with velopharyngeal incompetence(VPI) and those with velopharyngeal competence(VPC). This study also sheds light on the therapy for cleft palate. Methods As ample comprising 113 in dividuals after palatoplasty was observed in this study. The morphology of the soft palate was observed using lateral cephalometry. Differences in the distribution of morphological types between postoperative VPI and VPC patients were analyzed. Moreover, distribution of morphological types on the basis of age group and gender among the postoperative VPI individuals were also observed. Results The morphology of the soft palate was classified into six types. Significant differences in the distribution of morphological types between postoperative VPI and VPC patients were observed. Among the postoperative VPC individuals, the proportion between male and female is significantly different. However, no significant difference was found in the distribution of morphological types among age groups. Conclusion After palatoplasty, the soft palate exhibited various radiographic appearances as revealed by lateral cephalometry. The classification system and the statistical finding spresented in this report are beneficial to the research on velopharyngeal closure in individuals with cleft palate.

Key words: soft palate, morphology, velopharyngeal incompetence