[The surgical treatment of patients with extensive defects of the soft palate]

A modified technique of velopharyngoplasty is described, involving preliminary epithelialization of the total wound surface of the musculomucous flap and the newly formed wound defect on the posterior wall of the pharynx by submerged skin transplantation. The results of treatment of 12 patients with various types of postoperative extensive defects of the soft palate demonstrate a high efficacy of the developed technique.