[Factors affecting the postoperative velopharyngeal function among aged patients with cleft palate].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the prognostic factors affecting the primary surgical management of aged patients with cleft palate. METHODS: This study reviewed aged patients with cleft palate who received Furlow palatoplasty (surgical age>/=5 years) at the cleft center at West China Hospital of Stomatology from 2009 to 2014. The study retrieved intraoperative mea-surements, including velar length, pharyngeal depth, cleft width, maxillary width, cleft palate index, and palatopharyngeal ratio. Speech evaluation results at follow-up at least a year after surgery were also obtained. Logistic regression and retrospec-tive analyses were performed to identify correlative prognostic factors. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-one patients were included (70 males and 61 females). Dichotomy logistic regression analysis revealed that pharyngeal depth was the only mea-surement considerably associated with postoperative velopharyngeal function. Pharyngeal depth deeper than 16 mm indicated high risk of postoperative velopharyngeal insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Pharyn-geal depth is a significant prognostic factor for the primary surgical management of aged patients with cleft palate. Pharyn-goplasty might be considered when planning the primary management of aged patients.