Velopharyngeal insufficiency in hemifacial microsomia

One-third of a group of 18 patients with hemifacial microsomia demonstrated velopharyngeal insufficiency of a significant degree. The ones with velopharyngeal insufficiency tended to have more severe soft tissue and skeletal deformities of the maxillary-malar complex, associated with a total unilateral palatal paralysis. Cinefluoroscopy was not helpful in diagnosing the velopharyngeal insufficiency. Fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy, in contrast, proved to be an excellent diagnostic tool. We suggest that patients with hemifacial microsomia have a careful, periodic speech evaluation as an essential part of their overall management.