Surgical interventions in velopharyngeal dysfunction: comparative perceptual speech and nasometric outcomes for three techniques

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to evaluate speech outcomes following surgical intervention for velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD). Perceptual speech outcome data were subsequently analyzed in conjunction with patient factors such as congenital abnormalities, presence of cleft lip and/or...

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Main Authors: Ryan Instrum, Agnieszka Dzioba, Anne Dworschak-Stokan, Murad Husein
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-02-01
Series:Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-021-00548-4
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author Ryan Instrum
Agnieszka Dzioba
Anne Dworschak-Stokan
Murad Husein
author_facet Ryan Instrum
Agnieszka Dzioba
Anne Dworschak-Stokan
Murad Husein
author_sort Ryan Instrum
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The aim of this study was to evaluate speech outcomes following surgical intervention for velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD). Perceptual speech outcome data were subsequently analyzed in conjunction with patient factors such as congenital abnormalities, presence of cleft lip and/or palate, and age of repair. We hope to aid in the eventual creation of treatment algorithms for VPD, allowing practitioners to tailor surgical technique selection to patient factors. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for all patients who underwent surgical correction of VPD at London Health Sciences Centre between the years 2005 and 2018. Two hundred and two consecutive VPD patients (median age 10.6 years) were followed for an average of 20.2 months after having undergone a superiorly based pharyngeal flap (121), Furlow palatoplasty (72), or sphincteroplasty (9). Speech outcomes were measured via the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) perceptual speech assessment, and MacKay-Kummer Simplified Nasometric Assessment Procedures Revised (SNAP-R) was used to measure nasalence. Comparisons of mean preoperative and postoperative outcomes were made, as well as analyses regarding surgical procedure, syndrome, cleft status, and age. Results Mean perceptual scores improved significantly postoperatively (p < .0001), and successful perceptual resonance was identified in 86.1% patients (n = 174). Postoperative perceptual speech scores for three ACPA domains were superior with pharyngeal flap compared to both Furlow palatoplasty and sphincteroplasty ([hypernasality: p < .001, p < .02], [audible nasal emissions: p < .002, p < .05], [velopharyngeal function: p < .001, p < .05]). Success rate was higher in pharyngeal flap (94.2%) than in Furlow palatoplasty (75.0%, p < .001) or sphincter pharyngoplasty (66.7%, p < .001). No significant difference was identified in success rate based on syndrome or cleft status. Conclusion Operative management of VPD is highly effective in improving perceptual speech outcomes. Given proper patient selection, all three procedures are viable treatment options for VPD. For those patients identified as appropriate to undergo a pharyngeal flap, robust improvements in speech outcomes were observed. Graphical abstract
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spelling doaj.art-5d79c17a0c804d9ab121d7a16f3aa5792023-01-02T23:29:11ZengBMCJournal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery1916-02162022-02-0151111010.1186/s40463-021-00548-4Surgical interventions in velopharyngeal dysfunction: comparative perceptual speech and nasometric outcomes for three techniquesRyan Instrum0Agnieszka Dzioba1Anne Dworschak-Stokan2Murad Husein3Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, Victoria Hospital, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western OntarioDepartment of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, Victoria Hospital, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western OntarioThames Valley Children’s CentreDepartment of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, Victoria Hospital, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western OntarioAbstract Background The aim of this study was to evaluate speech outcomes following surgical intervention for velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD). Perceptual speech outcome data were subsequently analyzed in conjunction with patient factors such as congenital abnormalities, presence of cleft lip and/or palate, and age of repair. We hope to aid in the eventual creation of treatment algorithms for VPD, allowing practitioners to tailor surgical technique selection to patient factors. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for all patients who underwent surgical correction of VPD at London Health Sciences Centre between the years 2005 and 2018. Two hundred and two consecutive VPD patients (median age 10.6 years) were followed for an average of 20.2 months after having undergone a superiorly based pharyngeal flap (121), Furlow palatoplasty (72), or sphincteroplasty (9). Speech outcomes were measured via the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) perceptual speech assessment, and MacKay-Kummer Simplified Nasometric Assessment Procedures Revised (SNAP-R) was used to measure nasalence. Comparisons of mean preoperative and postoperative outcomes were made, as well as analyses regarding surgical procedure, syndrome, cleft status, and age. Results Mean perceptual scores improved significantly postoperatively (p < .0001), and successful perceptual resonance was identified in 86.1% patients (n = 174). Postoperative perceptual speech scores for three ACPA domains were superior with pharyngeal flap compared to both Furlow palatoplasty and sphincteroplasty ([hypernasality: p < .001, p < .02], [audible nasal emissions: p < .002, p < .05], [velopharyngeal function: p < .001, p < .05]). Success rate was higher in pharyngeal flap (94.2%) than in Furlow palatoplasty (75.0%, p < .001) or sphincter pharyngoplasty (66.7%, p < .001). No significant difference was identified in success rate based on syndrome or cleft status. Conclusion Operative management of VPD is highly effective in improving perceptual speech outcomes. Given proper patient selection, all three procedures are viable treatment options for VPD. For those patients identified as appropriate to undergo a pharyngeal flap, robust improvements in speech outcomes were observed. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-021-00548-4Velopharyngeal dysfunctionPharyngeal flapFurlow palatoplastyCleft palateSpeechHypernasality
spellingShingle Ryan Instrum
Agnieszka Dzioba
Anne Dworschak-Stokan
Murad Husein
Surgical interventions in velopharyngeal dysfunction: comparative perceptual speech and nasometric outcomes for three techniques
Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Velopharyngeal dysfunction
Pharyngeal flap
Furlow palatoplasty
Cleft palate
Speech
Hypernasality
title Surgical interventions in velopharyngeal dysfunction: comparative perceptual speech and nasometric outcomes for three techniques
title_full Surgical interventions in velopharyngeal dysfunction: comparative perceptual speech and nasometric outcomes for three techniques
title_fullStr Surgical interventions in velopharyngeal dysfunction: comparative perceptual speech and nasometric outcomes for three techniques
title_full_unstemmed Surgical interventions in velopharyngeal dysfunction: comparative perceptual speech and nasometric outcomes for three techniques
title_short Surgical interventions in velopharyngeal dysfunction: comparative perceptual speech and nasometric outcomes for three techniques
title_sort surgical interventions in velopharyngeal dysfunction comparative perceptual speech and nasometric outcomes for three techniques
topic Velopharyngeal dysfunction
Pharyngeal flap
Furlow palatoplasty
Cleft palate
Speech
Hypernasality
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-021-00548-4
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AT annedworschakstokan surgicalinterventionsinvelopharyngealdysfunctioncomparativeperceptualspeechandnasometricoutcomesforthreetechniques
AT muradhusein surgicalinterventionsinvelopharyngealdysfunctioncomparativeperceptualspeechandnasometricoutcomesforthreetechniques