How does the movement of the soft palate change in relation to the posterior pharyngeal wall?

What is it about?

This paper describes the anatomical changes seen in the movement of the soft palate as it relates to velopharyngeal closure in patients with cleft palate. Prominent landmarks are used to quantify the movement over time (from infancy to adolescence). These same landmarks are used intraoperatively by surgeons when completing secondary speech surgeries (such as the pharyngeal flap and/or sphincter pharyngoplasty).

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Why is it important?

This paper has implications for tissue placement of secondary speech surgeries for velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) and may impact future surgical procedure and decision making.