[Surgical reconstruction of velopharyngeal incompetence in postoperative cleft palate patients].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical result of velopharyngeal cerclage in repairing velopharyngeal incompetence of postoperative cleft palate patients.

METHODS

From 1987 to 2000, 25 cases of velopharyngeal incompetence due to postoperative cleft palate were given the velopharyngeal cerclage. The mucosa flap of palate was pushed back, the autogenous free grafts of denervated skeletal muscle were selectively used for velopharyngeal cerclage. All the patients were followed up for 2 and a half years on average.

RESULTS

All the patients achieved good results with velopharyngeal competence and good articulation. The patients' sound of voices was clear.

CONCLUSION

This method can be used to repair velopharyngeal incompetence of postoperative cleft palate patients; the operation is simple and the results are satisfactory.