Abstract:

Objective To explore the prognostic factors affecting the primary surgical management of aged patients with cleft palate.Methods This study reviewed aged patients with cleft palate who received Furlow palatoplasty (surgical age≥5 years) at the cleft center at West China Hospital of Stomatology from 2009 to 2014. The study retrieved intraoperative measurements, including velar length, pharyngeal depth, cleft width, maxillary width, cleft palate index, and palatopharyngeal ratio. Speech evaluation results at follow-up at least a year after surgery were also obtained. Logistic regression and retrospective analyses were performed to identify correlative prognostic factors.Results One hundred and thirty-one patients were included (70 males and 61 females). Dichotomy logistic regression analysis revealed that pharyngeal depth was the only measurement considerably associated with postoperative velopharyngeal function. Pharyngeal depth deeper than 16 mm indicated high risk of postoperative velopharyngeal insufficiency.Conclusion Pharyngeal depth is a significant prognostic factor for the primary surgical management of aged patients with cleft palate. Pharyngoplasty might be considered when planning the primary management of aged patients.

Key words: cleft palate, velopharyngeal insufficiency, aged patient, logistic regression