Surgical management of the hypodynamic palate

The most successful surgical correction of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) has been achieved in those patients in whom residual dynamic function of the soft palate/nasopharyngeal sphincter mechanism exists. In spite of the obvious need for rehabilitation, surgical reconstruction has often been advised against in those cases where the palate was hypodynamic or adynamic. We have developed a surgical procedure for these patients by utilizing a modification of Hogan's lateral port control pharyngeal flap method. We present the surgical considerations along with the initial application and results in four patients with hypodynamic palates of differing origins. We think that this technique extends surgical correction of VPI to the previously neglected group of patients in whom this condition is the result of a hypodynamic palate.