Pharyngeal bulb prosthesis and speech outcome in patients with cleft palate / Obturador faríngeo e resultados de fala em pacientes com fissura palatina

Abstract Introduction: Individuals with cleft palate can present with velopharyngeal dysfunction after primary palatoplasty and require a secondary treatment due to insufficiency. In these cases, the pharyngeal bulb prosthesis can be used temporarily while awaiting secondary surgery. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the outcome of treatment of hypernasality with pharyngeal bulb prosthesis in patients with history of cleft palate presenting with velopharyngeal insufficiency after primary palatal surgery. We hypothesized that the use of the pharyngeal bulb prosthesis is an effective approach to eliminate hypernasality related to velopharyngeal insufficiency in patients with cleft palate. Methods: Thirty speakers of Brazilian Portuguese (15 males and 15 females) with operated cleft palate, ages ranging from 6 to 14 years (mean: 9 years; SD = 1.87 years), participated in the study. All patients were fitted with a pharyngeal bulb prosthesis to manage velopharyngeal insufficiency while they were awaiting corrective surgery to be scheduled. Auditory-perceptual analysis of speech recorded in the conditions with and without pharyngeal bulb prosthesis were obtained from three listeners who rated the presence or absence of hypernasality for this study. Results: Seventy percent of the patients eliminated hypernasality while employing the pharyngeal bulb prosthesis, while 30% still presented with hypernasality. The comparison was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The use of the pharyngeal bulb prosthesis is an effective approach to eliminate hypernasality related to velopharyngeal insufficiency.

Resumo Introdução: Indivíduos com fissura palatina podem apresentar disfunção velofaríngea após a palatoplastia primária e necessitam de um secundário devido à insuficiência velofaríngea. Nesses casos, o obturador faríngeo pode ser usado temporariamente enquanto se aguarda uma cirurgia secundária. Objetivo: Investigar o resultado do tratamento da hipernasalidade com o uso de obturador faríngeo em pacientes com histórico de fissura palatina que apresentam insuficiência velofaríngea após a palatoplastia primária. Nossa hipótese é que o uso do obturador faríngeo seja uma abordagem eficaz para eliminar a hipernasalidade relacionada à insuficiência velofaríngea em pacientes com fissura palatina Método: Participaram do estudo 30 indivíduos falantes do Português Brasileiro (15 homens e 15 mulheres) com fissura palatina operada, de 6 a 14 anos de idade (média: 9 anos; DP = 1,87 anos). Todos os pacientes receberam obturador faríngeo para o tratamento da insuficiência velofaríngea, enquanto aguardavam vaga para a cirurgia secundária. A análise perceptivo-auditiva da fala, realizada nas condições com e sem obturador faríngeo, foi realizada por três ouvintes, quanto à presença e ausência da hipernasalidade. Resultados: 70% dos pacientes eliminaram a hipernasalidade de fala com o uso do obturador faríngeo, enquanto 30% não eliminaram. A comparação foi estatisticamente significante (p < 0,001). Conclusão: O uso temporário do obturador faríngeo é uma abordagem efetiva para eliminar a hipernasalidade decorrente da insuficiência velofaríngea.

Cephalometric predictors of hypernasality and nasal air emission

Abstract During times of increasingly recognized importance of interprofessional practices, professionals in Medicine, Dentistry, and Speech Pathology areas cooperate to optimize treatment of velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD), after primary palatoplasty for correction of cleft palate. Objective Our study aims to compare velar length, velar thickness, and depth of the nasopharynx of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) with the presence, or absence, of hypernasality and nasal air emission; and to verify if the depth:length ratio, between nasopharynx and velum, would be predictive of consistent hypernasality and nasal air emission (speech signs of VPD). Methodology Cephalometric radiographs and outcome of speech assessment were obtained from 429 individuals, between 6 and 9 years of age, with repaired unilateral cleft lip and palate. Velar length, velar thickness, depth of the nasopharynx, depth:length ratio, scores of hypernasality, and scores of nasal air emission were studied and compared; grouping the radiographs according to presence or absence of hypernasality and nasal air emission. Results For the group with speech signs of velopharyngeal dysfunction (those with consistent hypernasality and nasal air emission), the velums were shorter and thinner; the nasopharynx was deeper and the depth:length ratio was larger than the group without hypernasality and nasal air emission. Velar length was significantly shorter in individuals with consistent hypernasality and nasal air emission (p<0.001) and with history of palatal fistula (p=0.032). Depth of nasopharynx was significantly greater in individuals with consistent hypernasality and nasal air emission (p<0.001). Depthlength ratio was significantly larger in individuals with consistent hypernasality and nasal air emission (p<0.001). A depth:length ratio larger than 0.93 was always associated with speech signs of VPD. Conclusion Estimated with cephalometric radiographs, a depth:length ratio greater than 0.93, between the nasopharyngeal space and the velum, was 100% accurate in predicting hypernasality and nasal air emission after primary repair of unilateral cleft lip and palate.

Clinical study on obstructive sleep apnea following pharyngeal flap surgery / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#This study aims to investigate the incidence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in cleft patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) after pharyngeal flap surgery (PFS) and explore the influence of operation age.@*METHODS@#A retrospective study was conducted in 82 cleft patients after PFS. The patients were divided into two groups according to their age at the time of surgery. The incidence and severity of OSA were assessed at least 1.2 years (mean 6.0 years) postoperatively by polysomnography (PSG).@*RESULTS@#The incidence rates of OSA were 20% in the adult group and 31% in the child group. No significant difference was found between the two groups (@*CONCLUSIONS@#Some patients still have OSA average of 6.0 years after PFS, and operation ageis unrelated to the incidence and severity of OSA.

Avanço cirúrgico de maxila e ressonância de fala: comparação entre os tipos de fissura / Surgical maxillary advancement and speech resonance: comparison among cleft types

RESUMO Objetivo Investigar a influência do tipo de fissura sobre o aparecimento da hipernasalidade após o avanço cirúrgico da maxila (AM). Método A nasalidade foi determinada por meio da medida de nasalância (correlato acústico da nasalidade) utilizando-se a nasometria. Foi realizada a análise dos escores de nasalância de 17 indivíduos com fissura isolada de palato (FP), 118 com fissura de lábio e palato unilateral (FLPU) e 69 com fissura de lábio e palato bilateral (FLPB), de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 18 e 28 anos, submetidos ao AM. Apenas indivíduos com escores de nasalância indicativos de ressonância equilibrada previamente ao AM foram incluídos neste estudo. A nasometria foi realizada, em média, três dias antes e 15 meses após o AM. A proporção de pacientes que apresentaram escores de nasalância indicativos de hipernasalidade após o AM foi calculada por meio do teste ANOVA e a comparação entre os diferentes tipos de fissura foi realizada utilizando-se o teste Qui-quadrado (p < 0,05). Resultados Não foi observada diferença significante entre as proporções de indivíduos com hipernasalidade, de acordo com o tipo de fissura. Conclusão A nasometria mostrou que o aparecimento da hipernasalidade após o AM, em indivíduos com fissura de palato envolvendo ou não o lábio, ocorreu em proporções similares independentemente do tipo de fissura.

ABSTRACT Purpose This study investigated the influence of the cleft type on the appearance of hypernasality after surgical maxillary advancement (MA). Methods Nasality was determined by measurement of nasalance (acoustic correlate of nasality) by nasometry. The study involved analysis of the nasalance scores of 17 individuals with isolated cleft palate (CP), 118 with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and 69 with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP), of both sexes, aged 18 to 28 years, after MA. Only individuals with normal nasalance scores indicating balanced resonance before MA were included in this study. Nasometry was performed 3 days before and 15 months after MA, on average. The proportion of patients who presented nasalance scores indicating hypernasality after surgery was calculated by the ANOVA test, and comparison among the different cleft types was evaluated by the chi-square test (p < 0.05). Results No significant difference was found in the proportions of individuals with hypernasality among the cleft types. Conclusion Nasometry showed that the appearance of hypernasality after MA in individuals with cleft palate with or without cleft lip occurred in similar proportions, regardless of the cleft type.

Resultados de habla en la rehabilitación protésica de la insuficiencia velofaríngea secundaria a fisura palatina: reporte de caso / Speech results in prosthetic rehabilitation of velopharyngeal insufficiency secondary to cleft palate: case report

RESUMEN La insuficiencia velofaríngea (IVF) corresponde a cualquier defecto estructural del paladar blando o de las paredes de la faringe, caracterizado por la ausencia de tejido suficiente para lograr un cierre adecuado del mecanismo velofaríngeo durante el habla, lo que genera resonancia hipernasal y emisión nasal. En los casos de fisura con compromiso de paladar, el tratamiento para corregir la IVF puede ser quirúrgico o protésico, acompañado de intervención fonoaudiológica, pues la corrección física no elimina las alteraciones funcionales. Se presentan los resultados de habla obtenidos en un adulto hablante chileno diagnosticado con IVF secundaria a fisura palatina, rehabilitado en Fundación Gantz con prótesis de paladar obturadora y tratamiento fonoaudiológico. La evaluación mediante análisis perceptivo auditivo y nasometría evidencia una mejora del mecanismo velofaríngeo durante el habla.

ABSTRACT The velopharyngeal insufficiency (IVF) corresponds to any structural defect of the soft palate or the walls of the pharynx, where there is not enough tissue to achieve an adequate closure of the velopharyngeal mechanism during speech, generating hypernasal resonance and nasal emission. In cases of cleft palate, the treatment to correct IVF may be surgical or prosthetic, accompanied by speech therapy. The speech results obtained in a native speaker of Chilean Spanish diagnosed with IVF secondary to cleft palate, rehabilitated in Fundación Gantz with a palatal obturator (speech bulb) and speech therapy are presented. The evaluation by auditory perceptual analysis and nasometry show an improvement of the velopharyngeal mechanism during speech.

Podem os distúrbios de fala de crianças com fissura labiopalatina serem justificadas pelas alterações das habilidades auditivas centrais? / Can speech disorders of children with cleft palate be justified by central auditory skills?

As crianças com fissura labiopalatina geralmente apresentam alterações fonoaudiológicas com manifestações em vários aspectos, especialmente no da comunicação. No que se refere à audição, os bebês que nascem com fissura no palato tendem a apresentar acúmulo de fluido na orelha média, devido ao mau funcionamento do mecanismo de abertura e fechamento da tuba auditiva. O quadro pode evoluir para otites, que é umas das causas mais comuns de perda auditiva em crianças com fissura labiopalatina com até 10 anos. Esta perda auditiva geralmente é do tipo condutiva bilateral. Sabe-se que a audição normal é essencial para a aquisição da linguagem oral e efetiva comunicação verbal, e que déficits do sistema auditivo, congênitos ou adquiridos afetam a transmissão e a percepção do som. Qualquer perda auditiva oferece privação sensorial, podendo, assim, levar a alterações em diferentes habilidades auditivas. São crescentes os estudos científicos relacionados às habilidades auditivas em crianças com fissura labiopalatina, contudo, existe uma escassez de trabalhos relacionando habilidades auditivas centrais com as alterações de fala na fissura labiopalatina. Assim, hipotetizou-se que as habilidades auditivas centrais em crianças com fissura labiopalatina que apresentam alterações de fala seriam diferentes das habilidades das crianças com fissura labiopalatina sem alteração de fala e também que poderia existir uma relação entre as alterações de fala relacionadas à Disfunção Velofaríngea e às habilidades auditivas centrais. Este trabalho teve por objetivo verificar a associação entre as habilidades auditivas centrais e alterações de fala decorrentes da Disfunção Velofaríngea (hipernasalidade e emissão de ar nasal), e Articulações Compensatórias em crianças com fissura labiopalatina operada. Nesta pesquisa, foi realizado um estudo prospectivo de 45 pacientes, subdividos em 3 grupos. Todos matriculados no Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais da Universidade de São Paulo, com fissura labiopalatina operada. Foram averiguados inicialmente em prontuário dados quanto à Disfunção Velofaríngea e ao uso de Articulações Compensatórias a fim de compor os três grupos do estudo, sendo o G1 com alterações de fala decorrentes da Disfunção Velofaríngea e Articulações Compensatórias, o G2 com alterações de fala decorrentes da Disfunção Velofaríngea, porém sem Articulações Compensatórias, e G3 (grupo controle) sem alterações de fala decorrentes da Disfunção Velofaríngea e sem Articulações Compensatórias. Posteriormente, os sujeitos foram submetidos à avaliação audiológica periférica e a testes do processamento auditivo central. A Articulação Compensatória de maior ocorrência foi a golpe de glote, seguida pela fricativa faríngea e plosiva dorso médio palatal. O G1 foi o grupo que apresentou o maior número de sujeitos com habilidades auditivas alteradas, seguido pelo G2, e G3. Foi encontrada significância estatística na associação do grupo com alterações de fala decorrentes da DVF e AC com as habilidades de figura-fundo e ordenação temporal. A habilidade de resolução temporal esteve alterada em toda amostra estudada.(AU)

Children with cleft lip and palate usually have speech-language disorders with manifestations in various aspects of communication and supply. With regard to auditing, children with cleft palate tend to have fluid buildup in the middle ear due to malfunction of the opening and closing mechanism of the Eustachian tube. The table may develop into Otitis, which is one of the most common causes of hearing loss in children up to 10 years with cleft lip and palate. This hearing loss is usually conductive type and bilateral. Normal hearing is essential for the acquisition of oral language and effective verbal communication and that deficits of the auditory system, congenital or acquired, affect the transmission and perception of sound. Any hearing loss offers sensory deprivation and may thus lead alteration in different hearing abilities.Scientific studies related to the auditory abilities in children with cleft lip and palate are increasing, however, there is a paucity of studies linking central auditory skills with speech disorders in the cleft lip and palate. Thus hypothesized dry the central auditory skills in children with cleft lip and palate who have speech disorders would be different from the skills of children with cleft lip and palate speechless change and also that could be a relationship between speech disorders related to velopharyngeal dysfunction and central auditory skills .The objective of this study is investigate the association between central auditory skills and speech disorders resulting from the velopharyngeal dysfunction (hypernasality and nasal air emission) and compensatory articulations in children with cleft palate. In this research it performed a prospective study of 45 patients, subdivided into 3 groups. All enrolled in the Craniofacial Anomalies Rehabilitation Hospital of the University of São Paulo, with operated cleft lip and palate. They were initially investigated in medical records data on the velopharyngeal dysfunction and use of compensatory articulations in order to compose the three study groups: the G1 with speech disorders resulting from the velopharyngeal dysfunction and compensatory articulations, G2 with speech disorders resulting from the velopharyngeal dysfunction But without compensatory articulations and G3 (control group) without speech disorders resulting from the velopharyngeal dysfunction and no compensatory articulations. Later the subjects underwent a peripheral audiological evaluation and auditory processing tests. The compensatory articulation was the most frequent glottal stop, followed by pharyngeal fricative and plosive average back palatal. The G1 was the group that had the highest number of subjects with altered auditory skills, followed by G2 and G3. Found statistically significant association between the group with speech disorders resulting from VPD and CA with the figure-ground skills and temporal skills. The temporal resolution skill was altered in all groups of this study.(AU)

Complicaciones velofaríngeas de adenoamigdalectomía / Velopharyngeal complications of adenotonsillectomy

Las cirugías de adenoides y amígdalas están entre las operaciones pediátricas más frecuentemente realizadas. A pesar de ser procedimientos seguros, las complicaciones existen y deben ser conocidas y manejadas por el cirujano que las realiza. La mayoría de los casos corresponden a sangrados intra o posoperatorios, pero existen otras complicaciones que pueden manifestarse o perdurar semanas o meses después del procedimiento. Las complicaciones velofaríngeas son disfunciones del esfínter palatofaríngeo, que normalmente abre o cierra la comunicación entre la orofaringe y la nasofaringe durante la respiración, la deglución y el habla. Un déficit anatómico o funcional de este mecanismo produce el escape involuntario de aire, líquidos o alimentos hacia la nariz, situación conocida como insuficiencia velofaríngea. Por otra parte, la adherencia del velo palatino y pilares amigdalinos a la mucosa faríngea o base de la lengua producen una estenosis nasofaríngea u orofaríngea, respectivamente. Este cierre parcial o total de la nasofaringe puede manifestarse con síntomas como obstrucción nasal, rinorrea y voz hiponasal, entre otros. La comprensión de las causas que pueden llevar a estas complicaciones permitirá identificar a los pacientes en riesgo de desarrollarlas, tomar conductas quirúrgicas destinadas a prevenirlas y, en caso de presentarse, a conocer las distintas alternativas terapéuticas para manejarlas.

Surgery of the adenoids and tonsils is amongst the most frequently performed pediatric operations. Despite being safe procedures, complications do exist and must be known and managed by the surgeon who performs them. Most cases are intra or post-operative bleedings, but there are another complications that can manifest or last for weeks or even months after surgery. Velopharyngeal complications are dysfunctions of the palatopharyngeal sphincter, which normally opens or closes the communication between oropharynx and nasopharynx during breathing, deglutition and speech. An anatomical or functional deficit of this mechanism produces the involuntary escape of air, liquids or food to the nose, condition regarded as velopharyngeal insufficiency. On the other hand, the adherence of the palatine veil and tonsillar pillars to the pharyngeal mucosa or base of tongue generates a nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal stenosis, respectively. This partial or total closure of the nasopharynx can be manifested through symptoms such as nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea and hyponasality, among others. Understanding the causes that may lead to this complications will allow to identify patients in risk of developing them, taking surgical measures destined to prevent them and, in case of developing such complications, to know the different therapeutic alternatives for their management.

Morfología del velo palatino en individuos fisurados operados, y su relación con el grado de insuficiencia velo faríngea / Palate velum morphology on operated cleft palate patients and its relation with the degree of pharyngeal velum insufficiency

La fisura labio palatina corresponde a una malformación congénita, caracterizada por la interrupción en la continuidad de los tejidos. La cirugía primaria del velo del paladar permite reconstituir la morfología perdida del velo palatino, sin embargo ésta no siempre considera la devolución de la anatomía del músculo de la úvula, por lo cual, el velo operado adquiere una anatomía anómala impidiendo el cierre óptimo entre cavidad oral y nasal; esta condición se conoce con el nombre de insuficiencia velo faríngea. El objetivo de este trabajo fue asociar la morfología del velo palatino con la insuficiencia velo faríngea en individuos fisurados operados. Se realizó un estudio analítico, teniendo como unidad de muestra al velo del paladar; La muestra se seleccionó entre aquellos pacientes que cumplían con los criterios de inclusión. A los individuos seleccionados se les realizó un examen clínico y un registro fotográfico con el objetivo de clasificar la anatomía del velo del paladar. Posteriormente se les realizó una evaluación fonoaudiológica para determinar el grado de insuficiencia velo faríngea. Los datos obtenidos fueron tabulados y evaluados estadísticamente. La clasificación morfológica del velo del paladar determino que el 52% de los velos fueran clasificados como cóncavos, los velos convexos y planos se distribuyeron ambos en un 24%. Según la evaluación velo faríngea, el 12% se presentaron como insuficientes, el 52% como límite insuficiente, el 24% como límite suficiente y tan solo el 8% como suficientes. Al relacionar la morfología del velo del paladar con evaluación velo faríngea se obtuvo un p = 0,3. Existe una variabilidad tanto en la morfología del velo del paladar como en la evaluación de la insuficiencia velo faríngea en individuos fisurados operados, siendo esta ultima desfavorable. No se estableció una relación estadística entre morfología del velo del paladar y la evaluación velo faríngea.

The reason for lip and cleft palate is due to a congenital malformation characterized by the interruption in the continuity of tissue. The primary surgery of the palate velum allows us to reconstruct the lost morphology in the velum palate, however this doesn´t always consider the return of the uvula muscle anatomy, whereby the operated velum becomes an anomalous anatomy thus preventing an optimum closing between the nasal and oral cavity; this condition is known as pharyngeal velum insufficiency. The aim was to associate palate velum morphology with pharyngeal velum insufficiency on cleft palate operated patients. An analytical study was done, using the velum palate as sample; the sample was selected amongst patients who met the inclusion criteria. A photographic record and a clinical exam were done on those patients who were chosen in order to classify the anatomy of the velum palate. Subsequently a phonoaudiological evaluation was done in order to establish the degree of pharyngeal velum insufficiency. The data obtained were statistically tabulated and evaluated. The morphological classification of the palate velum determined that 52% of the vela were classified as concave; the flat and convex vela both had a 24% share each. According to the evaluation of the pharyngeal velum, 12% were shown to be insufficient, 52% as borderline insufficient, 24% as borderline sufficient, and only 8% proved to be sufficient. When relating the palate velum morphology with pharyngeal velum evaluation a p = 0.3 was obtained. There is a variability in both the palate velum morphology and in the evaluation of the pharyngeal velum insufficiency on operated cleft palate patients, with the latter shown as being unfavorable. No statistical relation was established between palate velum morphology and pharyngeal velum evaluation.

role of nasendoscopy in selecting the surgical management of velopharyngeal incompetence in cleft palate patients

This study aims at attempting to define the role of nasendoscopy in selecting the appropriate procedure. A retrospective review of 35 patients was conducted. Various static and dynamic variables obtained through the nasendoscope were analysed. Statistical analysis was conducted using regressional analysis of multiple variants to define the most significant variable affecting outcome. A surgical protocol was proposed and the results of each procedure was assessed by a speech pathologist. The total number of patients was 35 with a mean age of 12.5 +/- 6.9 and 51% were males. Statistical analysis revealed the significance of velar and lateral wall movements. The success rate was >75% for superiorly based posterior pharyngeal flap and sphincter pharyngoplasty 100% success rate for furlow palatoplasty and 50% for patients who were managed conservatively. Nasendoscopy provides the examiner with useful information especially in regards to the dynamic variables that strongly influenced the outcome

O esfíncter velofaríngeo / Velopharyngeal sphincter

Descreve os aspectos morfológicos e funcionais do esfíncter veloparíngeo, as causas responsáveis pelas alteraçöes da funçäo velofaríngea e sua sintomatologia. Mostraa importância do diagnóstico endoscópio, radiológico e aerodinâmico para uma adequada indicaçäo terapêutica

Control clínico y radiográfico de la incompetencia velofaríngea / Clinical and radiographic control of velopharyngeal incompetence

El diagnóstico y tratamiento de la incompetencia velofaríngea requiere del conocimiento de la anatomía y función normal del mecanismo de cierre. Se realizó un estudio clínico y radiográfico para determinar el grado de incompetencia en 12 pacientes postoperados de fisura palatina y para evaluar correlación alguna de ambos métodos de diagnóstico. Todos los pacientes fueron sometidos a estudios clínicos basados en parámetros para evaluar el habla, estudios videofluoroscópicos y cefalométricos. Resultando que del total de pacientes ssólo una cuarta parte presentó un adecuado cierre del esfínter velofaríngeo, concluyendo que esto es consecuencia de una inadecuada técnica quirúrgica en la reparación de la fisrua palatina o bien por haber sido realizada en dos etapas

Velopharyngeal incompetence in post tonsillectomy patients

During the period of May 1985 to April 1990 we had seen 30 cases of Velopharyngeal incompetence. Out of these 20 cases [12 males and 8 females] the problem was produced following tonsillectomy, while rest of the 10 patients had other causes of Velopharyngeal incompetence. This high number of patients developing incompetence following routine surgery is of importance to note; and extensive damage to faucial pillars should be avoided

Prevençäo da insuficiência velopalatina em crianças com indicaçäo de adenoidectomia / Prevention of velopharingeal insufficiency in children with indication of adenoidectomy

Crianças com rinolalia säo encaminhadas com freqüência para adenoidectomia. Os autores alertam para os riscos do agravamento ou surgimento da insuficiência velopalatina, apresentando dois casos ilustrativos. Encontraram defeito de fechamento do palato em um e insuficiência compensada pelo volume de adenóides em outro. Säo apresentados e comentados os sinais físicos em nível de consultório e eventuais exames necessários para os casos de suspeita clínica, nos quais a adenoidectomia é contra-indicada