Proposed clinical model for predicting speech outcomes in patients undergoing Furlow palatoplasty for velopharyngeal insufficiency after primary palatoplasty

Abstract

This study aimed to validate the predictors of speech outcomes following Furlow palatoplasty in patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) after primary palatoplasty and to propose and validate a model to predict the risk of persistent VPI.The study included patients with VPI after primary palatoplasty who underwent Furlow palatoplasty as a secondary surgery. Eleven variables were included: velar length, pharyngeal cavity depth, velopharyngeal gap, velopharyngeal closure pattern, sex, presence of cleft lip, existence of palatal fistula, surgeon, age at primary palatoplasty, age at secondary surgery, and time interval between primary palatoplasty and secondary surgery. Postoperative speech outcomes were assessed at least 1 year after the secondary surgery and classified as velopharyngeal competence (VPC) or VPI. Variables were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the area under the curve (AUC) was used to validate model accuracy.The study sample comprised 101 patients. Of the patients, 62 had VPC and 39 had VPI after secondary surgery. The results showed a younger age at secondary surgery, a smaller velopharyngeal gap, being female, having a coronal velopharyngeal closure pattern and a velopharyngeal closure ratio of 90% or greater produced a greater probability of VPC.Given the constraints of this study, it appears that the Furlow palatoplasty should be prioritized when the clinical model predicts a substantial likelihood of VPC post-surgery.