Management of submucous cleft palate

A Review of Socioeconomic Disparities in Submucous Cleft Diagnosis and Outcomes

Submucous cleft palate (SMCP) is a common congenital anomaly characterized by a diastasis of the levator veli palitini muscle. The subtlety of SMCP on physical examination can contribute to diagnostic delays. This study aims to analyze the factors contributing to delays in care and subsequent postoperative outcomes in patients with SMCP. All patients with surgical indications for SMCP who underwent palatoplasty at an urban academic children's hospital were included. Patient socioeconomic characteristics, medical history, and postoperative outcomes were collected. Patients were compared based on insurance type and government assistance utilization. Statistical analyses including independent t-test, Wilcoxon ranked sum test, χ2 analyses, Fisher's exact test, and stepwise logistic regression were performed. Among the 105 patients with SMCP, 69.5% (n=73) had public insurance and 30.5% (n=32) private. Patients with public insurance were diagnosed later (5.5±4.6 versus 2.6±2.4 years old; p<0.001) and underwent palatoplasty later (7.3±4.1 versus 4.4±3.4 years old; p<0.001) than those with private insurance. Patients receiving government assistance experienced higher rates of post-surgical persistent velopharyngeal insufficiency (74.5% versus 44.8%; p=0.006). The authors' results suggest a disparity in the recognition and treatment of surgical SMCP. Hence, financially vulnerable populations may experience an increased risk of inferior speech outcomes and subsequent therapies and procedures.

Primary Cleft Palate Repair

There are several factors to consider when planning cleft palate repair. It is important to review the patient's associated comorbidities, as they impact decisions on perioperative management and family counseling. Many comorbidities change the risk of postoperative airway obstruction, velopharyngeal insufficiency, or fistula formation. It is also critical to determine the type of cleft palate to be addressed, as this influences the decision on which technique is most appropriate for optimal patient outcome. Common surgical techniques for palatoplasty are reviewed in detail and outcomes are discussed as it relates to various techniques. Intraoperative photographs are included to detail the procedures.

Prognostic Factors for Speech Outcome among Patients with Submucous Cleft Palate Managed by Furlow Palatoplasty or Posterior Pharyngeal Flap

BACKGROUND

Submucous cleft palate (SMCP) is a particular subtype of cleft deformity for which the optimal surgical timing and technique are still under debate. This study aimed to identify potential prognostic factors for the speech outcome of patients with SMCP and provide evidence for further management strategy optimization.

METHODS

The authors reviewed patients with nonsyndromic SMCP who received either Furlow palatoplasty (FP) or posterior pharyngeal flap (PPF) between 2008 and 2021 in a tertiary hospital-based cleft center. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to screen preoperative variables, including cleft type (overt or occult), age at surgery, mobility of velum and pharyngeal wall, velopharyngeal closure ratio, and pattern. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the cutoff value of the significant predictors for subgroup comparison.

RESULTS

A total of 131 patients were enrolled, with 92 receiving FP and 39 receiving PPF. Age at operation and cleft type were identified as having significant effects on FP outcome. Patients operated on before 9.5 years of age had a significantly higher velopharyngeal competence (VPC) rate than those operated on after that age. The speech outcome among patients with occult SMCP was significantly worse than that of patients with overt SMCP after FP treatment. No preoperative variable was found to be correlated with PPF outcome. PPF yielded a higher VPC rate than did FP among patients operated on after 9.5 years of age.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis of patients with SMCP treated with FP is sensitive to age at surgery and cleft type. PPF may be considered for older patients in settings with limited access to multiple surgical procedures, especially when occult SMCP is diagnosed.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, III.

Submucous Cleft Palate (SMCP): Indications and Outcomes of Radical Muscle Dissection Palatoplasty in Children Under 4 Years of Age

To delineate the indications, referral sources and outcomes of radical muscle dissection palate repair in the first 4 years of life for patients with submucous cleft palate (SMCP).

This study presents a retrospective analysis of a single surgeon's management.

All children were treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital, United Kingdom.

Twenty-three children with nonsyndromic SMCP were included in this study.

All participants underwent radical muscle dissection repair before their fourth birthday.

Parameters analyzed included: referral sources, indications for referral, extent of anatomical abnormality, and postoperative outcomes.

Paediatricians provided the largest proportion of referrals to the cleft lip and palate clinic (39%) due to the presence of cleft lip/palate on prenatal scans or during neonatal examination. Over half (n = 12, 52%) of patients had severe anatomical anomalies being in grade IV (score 8-9), with the classical triad present to some extent in all but 2 of the patients. The main indication for surgery was nasal regurgitation of food and liquid (n = 9, 35%) followed by hypernasality (n = 6, 21%), difficulty feeding (n = 3, 8%), and severe anatomical defect (n = 2; 4%). Postoperatively, the presenting complaint improved in the majority of cases.

Nonsyndromic SMCP is often missed, though may present with nasal regurgitation, feeding problems, and/or hypernasality, though may be missed in nonsyndromic children. Early radical muscle dissection repair in the first 4 years of life is safe and effective, facilitating normal speech development.