CLEFT PALATE WITH VELOPHARYNGEAL INSUFFICIENCY: A CASE REPORT

Cleft palate is a congenital abnormality of the face, in which the palate does not develop normally during pregnancy. It is caused by failure of the fusion of the lateral palatine procesuss, resulting in the persistence of a slit-like opening between the oral and nasal cavities. Velopharyngeal insufficiency is the inability of the velopharyngeal valve to close owing to a deficit in the velopharyngeal structure, and one of the causes is cleft palate. The activities of swallowing and speaking depend on the ability to achieve adequate closure of the velopharyngeal valve. Here we present a 21-year-old man with cleft palate since birth. He had complaints of nasal sounds (rhinolalia) and water/food coming out from the nose every time he swallowed. He underwent surgery to correct this abnormality. Cleft palate closure was performed using the V-Y pushback technique and a posterior pharyngeal flap as this approach can extend the palate and effectively improve speech function. After the surgery, there were no disruptions in eating and drinking, and the patient spoke more clearly and was satisfied. A good understanding of the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of cleft palate is very important for the appropriate management in order to achieve optimal and comprehensive treatment with regard to all aspects of aesthetics, speech, and swallowing ability.