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William H. Lindsey, MD; Paul T. Davis, MD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1996;122(8):881-884.

Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the authors' experience with Furlow palatoplasty for velopharyngeal insufficiency.

Design
Review of 8 cases over a 3-year period. Setting: Regional private practice hospital affiliated with a teaching university.

Patients
Eight patients aged 4 to 14 years with symptoms and signs of velopharyngeal insufficiency underwent Furlow palatoplasty. Four patients had submucous or soft palate clefts without previous intervention. Four patients had undergone previous surgery for cleft palate.

Intervention
All patients underwent Furlow palatoplasty.

Main Outcome Measures
Fiberoptic nasopharyngeal examination and speech analysis.

Results
Seven of 8 patients exhibited good palate closure and marked improvement in speech. One patient exhibited good closure but had mild nasal emission and hypernasality, which responded to speech therapy after surgery.

Conclusion
Furlow palatoplasty is a useful technique for the correction of velopharyngeal insufficiency in selected patients.

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1996;122:881-884

Author Affiliations
From the McLeod Regional Medical Center of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Pee Dee, Florence, SC. Dr Lindsey is now with the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville.

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