Outcomes for children with submucous cleft palate and velopharyngeal insufficiency.

Objective: To review the outcomes of children with submucous cleft palate who also have velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI).

Methods: A retrospective chart review was carried out at a tertiary care academic centre of all patients who had VPI with a submucous cleft palate. The University of Iowa Cleft Palate registry parameters encompassing nasality (hyper- and hyponasality) were compared pre- and postoperatively.

Results: Preliminary results demonstrate a significant, stable improvement in children who underwent palatal surgery for VPI.

Conclusions: Positive outcomes in the treatment of VPI in the submucous cleft palate population were demonstrated with a combined approach of speech therapy and palatal surgery.