• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.483-488
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• 2006

Velopharyngeal function refers to the combined activity of the soft palate and pharynx in closing and opening the velopharyngeal port to the required degree. In normal speech, various muscles of palate & pharynx function as sphincter and occlude the oropharynx from the nasopharynx during the production of oral consonant sounds. Inadequate velopharyngeal function caused by neurologic disorder - cerebral apoplexy, regressive diseases - disseminated sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, congenital deformity - cleft palate, cerebral palsy and etc. may result in abnormal speech characterized by hypernasality, nasal emission and decreased intelligibility of speech due to weak consonant production. In our study, we constructed speech aids prosthesis - Speech bulb in the incomplete cleft palate VPI patient with hypernasality and assessed velopharyngeal function with nasometer which can evaluate the speech characteristics objectively.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.546-551
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• 2006

Purpose: The reconstruction of oropharyngeal defect after cancer surgery is very difficult because of their complicated structure and the functional importance to prevent velopharyngeal incompetence. In this article we investigated affecting factors of velopharyngeal function after reconstruction and a fundamental rule of reconstruction for saving their functions such as swallowing, speeching and breathing. Methods: We classified 18 patients into three group under Kimata's grouping. Type I defect(6 patients) was healed by primary closure or secondary intention. In Type II or III defect, two operation methods were used - the folded flap(8 patients) and modified Gehanno method(4 patients), which include a lateral-posterior pharyngeal rotation-advancement flap. We evaluated wound dehiscence between the flap and the soft palate, speech intelligibility using Hirose's method, regurgitation during oral feeding, and hypernasality. Results: Most of type I or II defects patients recovered satisfactory velopharyngeal function. But, in patients with type III defects we found wound dehiscence, worse speech function, and common velopharyngeal incompetence. Conclusion: The large defect size and presence of wound dehiscence are major factors of postoperative velopharyngeal function. We conclude that folded flap or modified Gehanno method is a good reconstructive operation method for broad contact between the flap and defect site, preventing wound problem.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제14권1_2호
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• pp.22-39
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• 1992

The purpose of this study was to evaluate hypernasality, nasal air emission, glottal stop, articulation disorder in patients with velopharyngeal incompetency(V.P.I.) and to analyze speech improvement after pharyngoplasty. In this study 61 patients with velopharyngeal incompetency were tested, and in patents with pharyngoplasty speech problems before pharyngoplasty were compared with those after pharyngoplasty. The results obtained are as follows : 1. There are few speech problems in pronouncing the vowel sounds. 2. There are many speech problems in pronouncing the pressure sounds and few speech problems in non-pressure sounds. 3. Speech problems in patients with cleft palate are influenced not by anatomical defect but by severity of velopharyngeal incompetence after palatorrhaphy. 4. Operation methods which decrease the velopharygeal incompetence must be considered for reducing the speech problems. 5. Among the 61 cases with V.P.I. 19 cases(31%) showed nasal air emission and 24 cases(39%) showed glottal stop. 6. Pharyngoplasty is of benefit to primary precipitating components such as hypernasality, nasal air emission but of no benefit to secondary compensating component such as glottal stop. 7. There as no significant difference in speech improvement between pre-and post-pharyngoplasty(p<0.05).

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.660-662
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• 2005

It is well documented that adenoidectomy is attributed to hypernasality in certain cases, but not clear that the enlarged tonsils affect the quality of speech. Hypertrophied tonsils may cause and complicate the problem of velopharyngeal incompetency. The huge tonsils prevent lateral pharyngeal walls from a medial movement and interfere velar elevation, being hypernasality. Hyponasality developes as the tonsils encroach in nasopharyngeal space. Voluminous tonsils also interfere airflow in the oropharyneal passage and produce the phenomenon of cul-de-sac resonance or muffled sound. The authors and et al. present a case of velopharyngeal insufficiency accompanied with hypertrophic tonsils. Improving the lateral constricting pharyngeal wall and velar elevation after tonsillectomy minimized the velopharyngeal gap. Accordingly, the procedures of sphincter pharyngoplasty and palatal lengthening resolved the problem of hypernasality instead of pharyngeal flap. Tonsillectomy prior to pharyngeal flap surgery tends to reduce the postoperative airway problems. Sometimes, however, only tonsillectomy does without pharyngeal flap. Surgical approach by stages and intermittent evaluation are recommended at intervals of at least six weeks.

• 대한후두음성언어의학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.51-53
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• 2003

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Is an unusual pattern of distal muscular atrophy with permanent bulbar sign. Vocal fold paralysis and velopharyngeal insufficiency(VPI) due to soft palate paralysis Is occasionally associated with distal muscular atrophy. Recently we experienced a case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis whose symptom was initially expressed with hoarseness and VPI. So we report a case with review of literature.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.163-167
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• 2018

Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is a common complication after primary palatoplasty. Although the several surgical treatments of VPI have been introduced, there is no consensus guide to select the optimal surgical treatment for VPI patients. The selection of surgical treatment for VPI depends on a multimodal patient evaluation, such as perceptual speech evaluation, nasometery and nasoendoscopy. We can provide more adequate treatment for VPI through the deeper understanding of anatomy and physiology in VPI.

• 대한치과보철학회지
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.353-360
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• 2013

구순 구개열은 구강 악안면 부위에 발생하는 선천적 기형이다. 정상적인 연구개는 휴식 시에는 구강과 비강을 연결해 주고, 연하나 특정 발음 시에는 상방으로 이동하여, 구강과 비강을 분리하는 구개인두 폐쇄 운동을 한다. 구개인두 기능부전을 갖는 구개열 환자에서는 이 운동이 불완전하여 저작, 연하, 발음 시에 어려움을 겪는다. 이때, 구개 결손부를 폐쇄하기 위해 사용하는 보철물을 구개 폐쇄장치라고 한다. 구개 폐쇄장치는 구강과 비강을 분리하여 발음, 저작, 연하, 심미적 기능을 회복한다. 본 증례의 환자는 구개인두 기능부전을 갖는 선천적 구개열 환자로 구개인두 폐쇄를 이루기 위하여 모델링 콤파운드와 점막 조정재를 이용한 기능인상 과정을 시행하여 제작한 구개 폐쇄장치를 장착하여 기능적인 면과 심미적인 면에서 만족할만한 결과를 얻었기에 이를 보고하는 바이다.

• 대한후두음성언어의학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.129-133
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• 2007

Background and Objectives: Nasometry is an easy, noninvasive method to obtain objective data regarding the function of velopharynx. However, because articulation errors may affect the results of nasometry, the examiner should interpret the nasalance score based on appropriate speech stimuli. The purpose of this study is to examine the difference of nasalance score between glottal and oral articulations in patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). Materials and Method: Nineteen children between 3.4 and 12.1 years of age (mean age 5.7 years) with a confirmed VPl showing hypernasality and articulation errors (glottal stops) were included. Nasalance scores were obtained for two speech patterns of glottal and oral stops. In addition, the velopharyngeal functions were analyzed in four subjects using video nasopharyngoscopy. Results: The $mean{\pm}S.D$ nasalance scores of the glottal stops and oral stops were $42.54{\pm}16.26%$ and $25.47{\pm}16.51%$ respectively (p=.000). Six of 19 patients achieved normal nasalance scores when glottal stops changed to oral stops by the trial speech therapy. Video nasopharyngoscope confirmed that large velopharyngeal gaps can be decreased into tiny gaps or complete closure when compensatory articulations were corrected for some cases. Conclusion: Compensatory articulation errors must be corrected for the reliable interpretation of the nasalance scores that are obtained in children with velopharyngeal insufficiency, which would facilitate to make a better decision for further management of these patients.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.144-148
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• 2006

The velopharyngeal dysfunction usually occurs in patients with previous operation of the cleft palate or with submucosal cleft palate. In case of velopharyngeal dysfunction without cleft palate, no study has been made when it comes to operative method and postoperative results. Here, we would like to present the operative methods and the postoperative results with the cases we've experienced. This study is based on seven cases of velopharyngeal dysfunction without cleft palate from 1999 to 2004. Analysis of age, sex, etiology, operative methods, satisfaction rate and speech evaluation was done. The patients were 3 males and 4 females, with an age ranged from 10 to 28 at the time of surgery. The follow-up period was more than six months. One case had bifid uvula, another had atypical anomaly in palate, and five cases had no anatomical abnormality. The palatal lengthening was done on one patient, the levator muscle repositioning on another patient and to the rest of them, the superiorly based posterior pharyngeal flap was done. It was difficult to determine the etiology of the velopharyngeal dysfunction without cleft palate. The speech improvement and the satisfaction rate of the patients and parents were diverse. Although the authors had a problem with statistical analysis between the operative age and the speech improvement, it was reasonable to perform a surgical operation because postoperative speech improvement was observed in most cases regardless of age. There is little statistical correlation, but significantly higher outcomes were observed in palatal lengthening and levator muscle repositioning than in pharyngeal flap.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.454-458
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• 2010

Velopharyngeal insufficiency is defined as a status in which nasal cavity and oral cavity can not be sepa-rated when speaking, swallowing by any reason. It has been treated by palatorrhaphy, pharyn-geal flap, local flap, free flap etc. When the size of the defect is small, it can be restored by palatorrhaphy, pharyngeal flap etc. But they are not proper for treatment of the large size of defect. In that case, local flap and free flap are more beneficial. Although large defect can be restored by free flap technique, but it is very complex, time-consuming and may bring about esthetical, functional complications of donor site. Buccinator myomucosal flap is a kind of local flap and reported for the first time by Bozola et al in 1989 and it has become a useful way for reconstruction of large intraoral defect. Authors experienced the use of buccinators myomucosal flap for treating secondary velopharyngeal insufficiency with large soft palate defect and obtained good result. So we report the case with literature reviews.