Relationship between occlusion and lisping in children with cleft lip and palate.

INTRODUCTION: The literature suggests that individuals with history of cleft lip and palate who present with midfacial growth deficiency are at higher risk of presenting lisping. The relationship between distortions during production of linguoalveolar fricative sounds and the severity of malocclusion, however, has not been established for the population with cleft. OBJECTIVE: To study the association between lisping and dental arch relationship. METHODOLOGY: Speech samples and dental arch casts were obtained from 106 children with operated unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) during the stage of mixed dentition and before orthodontic treatment. Videotaped productions of the phrase /u saci saiw sedu/ were rated by speech-language pathologists for the identification of lisping during [s]. Dental arch casts were rated by orthodontists using the Goslon Yardstick and the Five-Year Index to establish dental arch relationship. RESULTS: Multiple logistic regression showed no significant association between lisping and dento-occlusal index (p  =  .802) and age (p  =  .662). Substantial interjudge agreement during auditory-perceptual ratings was found (kappa  =  .63). Almost perfect agreement was found between orthodontists while establishing the dental arch relationship (kappa  =  .81). DISCUSSION: This study failed to reveal an association between lisping and dental arch relationship in children with operated UCLP. Multiple variables may play a role in determining occurrence of lisping, warranting further investigation.

Speech outcomes and velopharyngeal function after surgical treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency in individuals with signs of velocardiofacial syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to analyze if individuals with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) present the same characteristics of speech and velopharyngeal function (VPF) compared with patients with nonsyndromic submucous cleft palate, as well as to compare the effectiveness of palate surgery on the speech function and VPF between groups. METHODS: This was a prospective study performed at the Speech Therapy Sector and Physiology Laboratory, Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies/University of São Paulo.The procedure performed was primary palatoplasty associated or not to superiorly based pharyngeal flap surgery.There were 50 patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency: 25 with signals of VCFS (VCFS group) and 25 without syndrome with submucous cleft palate (SMCP group).The hypernasality was scored by 3 examiners; nasalance was evaluated by nasometry, and VPF was assessed by the size of the velopharyngeal gap on the nasoendoscopy. The evaluations were conducted before and, in average, 18 months after surgery. RESULTS: Before surgery, the VCFS and SMCP groups presented similar speech function and VPF characteristics in all parameters, with no statistically significant differences. After surgery, there was reduction in the hypernasality, nasalance, and VPF in, respectively, 20%, 31%, and 36% of patients in the VCFS group and in 24%, 30%, and 30% in the SMCP group. Elimination/normalization of variables was obtained in 28%, 19%, and 8% of patients in the VCFS group and 20%, 40%, and 25% in the SMCP group, respectively, for hypernasality, nasalance, and VPF. There was no statistically significant difference between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with VCFS presented similar speech function and VPF characteristics as patients with nonsyndromic SMCP. The surgery for velopharyngeal insufficiency correction was equally effective for the improvement and resolution of speech symptoms and VPF in patients with VCFS compared with the SMCP group.

Reconstrução uretral com retalho autógeno de mucosa bucal após uretrostomia, em cães

PURPOSE: To verify if the buccal mucosa autogen would be suitable for urethral reconstruction in a presence of fibrous tissue and if the procedures could determine the formation of fistulas and saculation at the receptor sites. METHODS: Seven adult dogs was subjected to pre-escrotal uretrostomy. After 40 days, the urethrostomy was corrected through the inplantation of the buccal mucosa fragments at ventral wall of the urethra. The dogs were observed during 40 days, when, it were subjected to radiografic examination and slaughtered to histological study. RESULTS: All animals showed cystitis and urethrocutaneous fistula in average time of 20 days. The radiografic aspects at 40 days showed: luminal continuity in seven animals and saculations at ventral wall of the urethra in six dogs, without interference in urinary jet quality. The histologic findings indicate the complete integration of the buccal mucosa to receiver site. CONCLUSION: The graft implanted at ventral wall, employing autogen buccal mucosa is suitable to correction of the urethral defects produced by urethrostomy in dogs, although saculations on receiver site can happen.

OBJETIVO: Verificar se fragmentos de mucosa bucal autógena poderiam ser adequados para reconstrução uretral na presença de tecido fibroso, e se tal procedimento poderia determinar a formação de fístulas e ou saculações nos sítios implantares. MÉTODOS: Sete cães adultos foram submetidos à uretrostomia pré-escrotal. Após 40 dias, a uretrostomia foi corrigida por meio da implantação de fragmentos de mucosa bucal na parede ventral da uretra. Os animais foram observados durante 40 dias, quando então, foram submetidos a exames radiográficos e sacrificados para estudo histológico. RESULTADOS: Todos os animais apresentaram cistite e fístulas uretro-cutâneas de duração média de vinte dias foram observadas em seis deles. O aspecto radiográfico aos 40 dias após a reconstrução uretral mostrou: continuidade luminal em sete animais e presença de saculações na parede ventral da uretra em seis, sem interferência na qualidade do jato urinário. As características histológicas indicam integração completa da mucosa bucal ao sítio receptor. CONCLUSÃO: O implante em retalho ventral, com fragmentos de mucosa bucal autógena é adequado para correção de defeito uretral produzido por uretrostomia no cão embora possa ocorrer a formação de saculações no sítio do selamento.

Influence of lip repair on craniofacial morphology of patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare two groups of adult male patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) on the basis of lateral cephalometric radiographs. PATIENTS: The first group of adult male patients with complete BCLP was comprised of 13 unoperated patients with an average age of 21 years. The second group was comprised of 14 patients with an average age of 21 years 7 months, who had been operated only on the lip prior to 2 years of age. DESIGN: The following measurements were evaluated: angle and length of cranial base; maxillary spatial positioning and length; mandibular spatial positioning; morphology and length; maxillomandibular relationship; vertical facial length; dental positioning; interdental arch relationship; and soft profile. RESULTS: The results suggest that lip repair has a significant influence on certain areas of the craniofacial complex, mainly the premaxilla and the upper incisors. CONCLUSIONS: The most significant findings consequent to lip repair consisted of reduction of the premaxillary anterior projection and lingual tipping of the upper incisors. Retropositioning of the premaxilla, especially in the alveolar part, is a desired effect of lip repair in complete BCLP. Such effect on the projected premaxilla is usually beneficial, except when the exceedingly severe lip pressure, unfavorable growth pattern, or both retropositions the midface profile beyond acceptable sagittal limits.