An audit of velopharyngeal incompetence treated by the Orticochea pharyngoplasty

An audit of patients with velopharyngeal incompetence treated by the Orticochea pharyngoplasty was undertaken. 54 patients who had been treated by a single surgeon over a 10-year period were identified. All patients had pre- and postoperative speech therapy and were followed up for an average of 6 months. 49/54 patients had lessening of their nasal escape; in 40/54 it was eliminated completely. Nasal resonance was assessed as normal in 46/54 of patients postoperatively. The results are compared with those of other similar studies.