Abstract
Recently in the treatment of cleft lip and palate patients, it has been reported that good velopharyngeal competency and articulation is related to the timing of the surgery. We have obtained successful results in velopharyngeal competency in 90% of our cases. It is considered that many preoperative factors (e. g. cleft type and from, movement of the pharynx, the skill of the surgeon and the postoperative training of the patient) are related to the results of velopharyngeal competency, Additionally, the length of the training period is an important factor. In the present study, cleft type, cleft width, and velopharyngeal distance, as related to the time required to achieve velopharyngeal competency, was investigated.
1. Relationship between cleft width (CW) and the period of time required to achieve velopharyngeal competency (VPC-T).2. Relationship between pharyngeal depth (VP-D) and the period of time required to achieve velopharyngeal competency (VPC-T).3. Relationship between the preoperative evaluation and the period of time required to achieve velopharyngeal competency (VPC-T).
The results were as follows:
1. A relation with the acquir ed period of velopharyngeal competency was recognized for cleft width and pharyngeal depth.
2. A relation between the preoperative evaluation and the period to acquire velopharyngeal competency was seen, and the period to acquire velopharyngeal competency was comparatively shorter as for the thing made good by the preoperative evaluation.
