[Preliminary study of palatal lengthening by levator veli palatini retropositioning according to Sommerlad palatoplasty].

PURPOSE: To research whether palate lengthening can be achieved after palatoplasty with levator veli palatini retropositioning according to Sommerlad palatoplasty.

METHODS

Sixty-five cases with incomplete cleft palate were selected randomly, with the age ranged from 10 to 13 months. Sommerlad palatoplasty was performed by the same surgeon with operating loupes. A paper ruler was used to measure the straight-line and the curved distance of palatal length starting from the meeting point between the center of the 2 medial incisor teeth and the lingual gingiva up to the uvular tip while the patient was under general anesthesia before and immediately after palatoplasty. The data was analyzed with SPSS 19.0 software package.

RESULTS

Through measurements, the straight-line distance of the palate was about (44.24±0.76) mm, and the curve-line distance of the palate was about (53.11±0.74) mm before Sommerlad palatoplasty. The straight-line distance of the palate was (48.81±0.72) mm, and the curve-line distance of the palate was (59.41±0.8) mm after Sommerlad palatoplasty. The straight-line elongation was about (4.56±0.27) mm, with the mean elongation ratio of 10.31% (P<0.01). The curve-line elongation was about (6.30±0.43) mm, with the mean elongation ratio of 11.86% (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant elongation in palate length is obtained after Sommerlad palatoplasty, which may be beneficial to recover the patients' normal speech and improve velopharyngeal competence.