Morphologic Significance of Bifid Uvula

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-561
Author(s):  
Robert J. Shprintzen ◽  
Richard H. Schwartz ◽  
Avron Daniller ◽  
Lynn Hoch

Bifid uvula is often regarded as a marker for submucous cleft palate although this relationship has not been fully confirmed. The reason for the tacitly assumed connection between these two anomalies has, in part, been perpetuated by the generally accepted definition of submucous cleft palate as the triad of bifid uvula, notching of the hard palate, and muscular diastasis of the soft palate. Recently, investigations have provided evidence of more subtle manifestations of submucous cleft palate by the use of nasopharyngoscopic examination of the palate and pharynx. It has been determined that submucous cleft palate can occur even when a peroral examination shows an intact uvula. This finding places the "marker" relationship in question. In order to determine the frequency of association between bifid uvula and submucous clefting, a total ascertainment of children with bifid uvula from a suburban pediatric practice was examined nasopharyngoscopically. It was determined that in all but two cases, children with bifid uvula had some or all of the landmarks of submucous cleft palate. Several of the children were found to have velopharyngeal insufficiency and mildly hypernasal speech. This finding prompts caution in the recommendation of adenoidectomy in the presence of bifid uvula.

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 59-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn Marty Grames ◽  
Kamlesh Patel

A review of the published literature on submucous cleft palate was conducted. Specific information sought included definition and prevalence of submucous cleft palate, indications for surgical intervention, ideal age for intervention, evaluation tools for submucous cleft palate, and whether or not surgical repair was indicated for treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency, feeding issues, or ear disease associated with submucous cleft. The research revealed that there is no consistent definition of submucous cleft palate in the published literature, which renders comparison of treatments difficult. In addition, the literature lacks consensus on the indications for submucous cleft palate repair, the effect of repair on ancillary disorders that may exist, and the best methods of evaluation for submucous cleft palate. A consensus conference on the submucous cleft may be valuable in guiding treatment and research going forward.


2020 ◽  
pp. 014556132097486
Author(s):  
Jia-Qi Hu ◽  
Yu-Guo Zhang ◽  
Wei Feng ◽  
Hua Shi

Objective: We present a case with prenatal diagnosis of submucous cleft palate (SMCP) which was described using 2- and 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography in utero. Case Report: A 25-year-old pregnant woman was referred to our department for fetal ultrasound screening. After the detection of cardiac and spinal malformations of fetal, further detailed examination detected SMCP, which showed a gap within the hard palate on axial transversal view with the soft palate visible on sagittal view. The imaging of a defective hard palate in prenatal 3D ultrasonography is similar to that in postmortem 3D computed tomography reconstruction. Conclusion: A gap within the hard palate and verification of the visibility of the soft palate should be key points in the prenatal diagnosis of SMCP. Three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging is helpful for displaying the shape and extent of the bony defect in SMCP.


CoDAS ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 365-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Zuin Ferreira ◽  
Jeniffer de Cássia Rillo Dutka ◽  
Melina Evangelista Whitaker ◽  
Olivia Mesquita Vieira de Souza ◽  
Viviane Cristina de Castro Marino ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: To compare the nasoendoscopic findings related to the velopharyngeal gap among patients with cleft palate who underwent the Furlow (F) technique and those who underwent the von Langenbeck (vL) technique for primary palatal surgery, who remained with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI).METHODS: The analyzed data were retrieved from the institution's data of recordings of nasoendoscopic exams. The sample comprised 70 recorded nasoendoscopic exams obtained from 22 patients who underwent the F technique and from 48 who underwent the vL technique during primary palatoplasty, who remained with VPI after surgery and were submitted to nasoendoscopy, between the ages of 5 and 15 years (mean age: 8 years), for definition of the best treatment for VPI. The images were edited into a DVD in a randomized sequence to be assessed by three experienced speech language pathologists regarding displacement and excursion of the soft palate; displacement and excursion of lateral pharyngeal's walls; displacement and excursion of the posterior pharyngeal's wall; and presence of the Passavant ridge and size and type of velopharyngeal gap.RESULTS: The results of the comparison of measurements between F and vL groups were not statistically significant.CONCLUSION: The surgical technique used in primary palatoplasty was not relevant to determine the difference in the size of the velopharyngeal gap for patients who maintained VPI.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 420-429
Author(s):  
Susanna Botticelli ◽  
Annelise Küseler ◽  
Kirsten Mølsted ◽  
Helene Soegaard Andersen ◽  
Maria Boers ◽  
...  

Aim: To examine the association of cleft severity at infancy and velopharyngeal competence in preschool children with unilateral cleft lip and palate operated with early or delayed hard palate repair. Design: Subgroup analysis within a multicenter randomized controlled trial of primary surgery (Scandcleft). Setting: Tertiary health care. One surgical center. Patients and Methods: One hundred twenty-five infants received cheilo-rhinoplasty and soft palate repair at age 3 to 4 months and were randomized to hard palate closure at age 12 or 36 months. Cleft size and cleft morphology were measured 3 dimensionally on digital models, obtained by laser surface scanning of preoperative plaster models (mean age: 1.8 months). Main outcome measurements: Velopharyngeal competence (VPC) and hypernasality assessed from a naming test (VPC-Sum) and connected speech (VPC-Rate). In both scales, higher scores indicated a more severe velopharyngeal insufficiency. Results: No difference between surgical groups was shown. A low positive correlation was found between posterior cleft width and VPC-Rate (Spearman = .23; P = .025). The role of the covariate “cleft size at tuberosity level” was confirmed in an ordinal logistic regression model (odds ratio [OR] = 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.01-1.35). A low negative correlation was shown between anteroposterior palatal length and VPC-Sum (Spearman = −.27; P = .004) and confirmed by the pooled scores VPC-Pooled (OR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.69-0.98) and VPC-Dichotomic (OR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.68-0.99). Conclusions: Posterior cleft dimensions can be a modest indicator for the prognosis of velopharyngeal function at age 5 years, when the soft palate is closed first, independently on the timing of hard palate repair. Antero-posterior palatal length seems to protect from velopharyngeal insufficiency and hypernasality. However, the association found was significant but low.


1994 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 287-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravelo V. Argamaso ◽  
Gerald J. Levandowski ◽  
Karen J. Golding-Kushner ◽  
Robert J. Shprintzen

Twenty-two patients, with hypernasal speech and asymmetric velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) identified preoperatively by multi-view videofluoroscopy and nasopharyngoscopy, were managed with superiorly based pharyngeal flaps skewed to the side with reduced lateral pharyngeal wall movement. Patient age ranged from 5 to 58 years. The etiology of the VPI included cleft palate with or without cleft lip, neurogenic VPI, velocardiofacial syndrome, tumor resection or latrogenic causes, submucous cleft palate, neurofibromatosis, and hemifacial microsomia. Follow-up, at 1 year and thereafter, showed resolution of VPI in all but two patients. An auxiliary flap to augment the primary flap was added on the side of diminished lateral pharyngeal wall motion which corrected the residual VPI. Three patients developed hyponasality. One was a child whose symptoms improved with time and growth. Two were adults, but the hyponasal resonance was mild and required no further Intervention. The advantage of skewing flaps is that at least one port functions adequately for ease in respiration and for drainage of secretions, thus reducing the risk of nasal obstruction. One open port also allows access for nasoendotracheal intubation should anesthetic be required for future operations.


1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 590-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles M. Malata ◽  
Rodney D. Cooter ◽  
Andrew G. G. Batchelor

An unusual submucous palatal cleft Is presented. In addition to the usual triad of bifid uvula, posterior bony notching, and diastasis of the velar musculature, there was a linear bony cleft involving only the maxillary component of the hard palate. The palatine bone was intact between the posterior notch and the maxillary cleft. A discontinuous palatal cleft is an extremely rare deformity and is interesting because existing theories of cleft pathogenesis do not readily explain such a defect.


2000 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don Larossa

Overview This update focuses on current practices and controversies in surgical repair of the hard and soft palate posterior to the alveolus. Our current understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of presurgical active and passive manipulation of the hard palate shelves including the use of periosteoplasty is reviewed. The evolution of the multiple methods of repair of the hard and soft palate is given in a historical context along with a discussion of the concerns about timing of palate repair.


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