VELOPHARYNGEAL FUNCTION IN CLEFT PATIENTS UNDERGOING MAXILLARY ADVANCEMENT

Maxillary advancement may result in movement of the posterior border o f the hard palate with its soft palate attachment, which may cause imp airment of velopharyngeal (VP) function. We examined VP function befor e and after Le Fort I osteotomy in 15 cleft lip and palate patients. T he extent of maxillary advancement was measured by means of standard c ephalometric radiographs taken before and after the operation. VP func tion was evaluated in terms of perceptual speech assessments, pressure -flow data and nasalance scores preoperatively and 2, 6 and 12 months after the operation. The results showed that maxillary advancement res ulted in impairment of VP function in 4 (27%) of the patients.