The effect of sphincter pharyngoplasty on the range of velar movement

The aim of this study was to assess the mobility of the soft palate following sphincter pharyngoplasty in patients with velopharyngeal incompetence of variable aetiology. Pre- and postoperative videotape recordings of lateral view videofluoroscopy of 24 patients were retrospectively studied and compared with regard to the range of velar movement. Tracings of the velopharyngeal port were made on acetate paper directly from the television monitor and absolute angle measurements were taken. Analysis of the results showed a highly significant increase in the range of palatal movement postoperatively. There was no evidence of correlation between the magnitude of the increase and the postoperative improvement in speech. The findings and their implications are discussed.