Incidence of velopharyngoplasty following various techniques of palatoplasty

A total of 474 patients with cleft palates were treated at the Department for Maxillofacial Surgery of Rostock University from 1971 to 1991. In 145 cases velopharyngoplasty was indicated. Primary velopharyngoplasty was performed on 36 and secondary velopharyngoplasty on 109 patients. In our opinion today primary velopharyngoplasty should be the exception. Intravelar veloplasty according to Kriens (1970) created particularly favorable conditions for good velar function so that secondary pharyngoplasty was only rarely indicated. Secondary pharyngoplasty should be performed and timed only in agreement with the speech therapist.