Speech results and velopharyngeal morphology following 151 cranially based velopharyngoplasties

151 velopharyngoplasties (VPP) are evaluated for velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) and quality of spontaneous speech, conspicuous scarring or asymmetry of the pharyngeal flap and upper airway obstruction. VPP improves speech effectively in all patient groups, although poorer results are found in patients older than 6 years or with primary VPI. Postoperative morphology does not seem to affect these results, and upper airway obstruction is related to hypertrophic tonsillar tissue.