Refinements Of Intravelar Veloplasty

Abstract

Between 1981 and 1985 115 children from 11 to 20 months of age underwent palatal reconstruction with an in-travelar veloplasty. The operative technique is described with, in our opinion, some important refinements. These relatively limited surgical procedures consist of careful separation of the muscles from the posterior edge of the palatal bone, posterior movement of the muscles, nasal layer closure, reconstruction not only of the levator muscle, but also of the palatopharyngeus and uvularis muscle. A preliminary evaluation of 28 children who ranged in age from two to five years showed high rates of intelligible speech, normal articulation and resonance.

Key Words:

• cleft palate
• primary closure
• surgical technique