Cephalometric Analysis in Submucous Cleft Palate: Comparison of Cephalometric Data Obtained from Submucous Cleft Palate Patients with Velopharyngeal Competence and Incompetence

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between craniofacial and nasopharyngeal morphology and velopharyngeal function in submucous cleft palate. Design and Patients Fifty-two lateral cephalometric radiographs of 46 sub-mucous cleft palate (SMCP) patients with velopharyngeal competence (24 patients) and incompetence (22 patients) at 4 and 7 years of age were studied. The patients had not received any surgical or orthodontic treatment prior to cephalography being performed. Results Significant differences were found between cephalometric variables (N-Ba, N-S-Ba angle) in children with velopharyngeal competence and incompetence. However, the results of our study showed that cephalometric data alone are not useful for predicting velopharyngeal function and can not serve as an absolute prognostic indicator. Conclusion There are many factors that can influence velopharyngeal function in SMCP patients. Cephalometric data did not demonstrate a strong relationship to velopharyngeal function.