Long-Term Follow-Up Study of Young Adults Treated for Unilateral Complete Cleft Lip, Alveolus, and Palate by a Treatment Protocol Including Two-Stage Palatoplasty: Speech Outcomes

• Published in: Archives of plastic surgery 2017, 44(3), , pp.202-209
• Main Authors: Kappen, Isabelle Francisca Petronella Maria, Bittermann, Dirk, Janssen, Laura, Bittermann, Gerhard Koendert Pieter, Boonacker, Chantal, Haverkamp, Sarah, de Wilde, Hester, Van Der Heul, Marise, Specken, Tom FJMC, Koole, Ron, Kon, Moshe, Breugem, Corstiaan Cornelis, Mink van der Molen, Aebele Barber
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adult; cleft lip; cleft lip with or without cleft palate, nonsyndromic; cleft palate; Original; Original Article; speech; 성형외과학
• ISSN: 2234-6163; 2234-6171
• DOI: 10.5999/aps.2017.44.3.202

Background No consensus exists on the optimal treatment protocol for orofacial clefts or the optimal timing of cleft palate closure. This study investigated factors influencing speech outcomes after two-stage palate repair in adults with a non-syndromal complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). Methods This was a retrospective analysis of adult patients with a UCLP who underwent two-stage palate closure and were treated at our tertiary cleft centre. Patients ≥17 years of age were invited for a final speech assessment. Their medical history was obtained from their medical files, and speech outcomes were assessed by a speech pathologist during the follow-up consultation. Results Forty-eight patients were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 21 years (standard deviation, 3.4 years). Their mean age at the time of hard and soft palate closure was 3 years and 8.0 months, respectively. In 40% of the patients, a pharyngoplasty was performed. On a 5-point intelligibility scale, 84.4% received a score of 1 or 2; meaning that their speech was intelligible. We observed a significant correlation between intelligibility scores and the incidence of articulation errors (P