A treatment algorithm for secondary cleft palate repair based on age and preoperative velopharyngeal closure ratio

This study aimed to find a surgical treatment algorithm for secondary velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), with Furlow palatoplasty or posterior pharyngeal flap (PPF), balancing speaking and breathing. Non-syndromic cleft palate patients with secondary VPI who underwent Furlow palatoplasty or PPF were reviewed. A multinomial logistic regression model was employed to estimate the association between preoperative variables and surgical outcomes. A series of multinomial logistic regression models was utilized to determine the cut-off value of the significant predictors for subgroup comparison. In total, 203 patients were enrolled, with 73 receiving Furlow palatoplasty and 130 receiving PPF. The surgical outcomes of the two techniques were significantly different (p = 0.005). Age was a significant predictor in all intragroup comparative analyses. Preoperative VCR was associated with postoperative velopharyngeal function in patients undergoing Furlow palatoplasty (p = 0.042). The best cut-off values were an age of 13 years and a VCR of 70%. Surgical outcomes in both group B (age <13, VCR <70%; p = 0.017) and group C (age ≥13, VCR ≥70%; p = 0.003) differed significantly between the two surgical techniques. Within the limitations of the study, it is seems that in patients aging <13 years and with a VCR of ≥70%, Furlow palatoplasty should be preferred whenever appropriate to receive adequate velopharyngeal function.