Speech Outcome Following Autologous Fat Grafting in Soft Palate for Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

• DOI: 10.1177/10556656241304216
• Publication Date: 2025-06-03T07:22:31Z
• Authors: Megahed M. Hassan; Ahmed Elsayed Gel...; Mona El-Rabie Ahmed; Mohamed Abdel-Aal...; Sherif Bakry; Ahmed Elsherbiny
• Keywords: Soft palate

ObjectiveAutologous fat graft injection to the soft palate is a relatively new treatment for velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). This study aimed at evaluating outcome following into and speech therapy in selected patients determine good candidates.DesignRetrospective case series.SettingInstitutional tertiary hospital.PatientsThe included 22 with VPI associated repaired cleft (CP), submucous cleft, or post-adenoidectomy. The inclusion criteria were mild moderate hypernasality closure > 50%. Patients severe hypernasality, intelligibility grade 4, < 50%, syndromic CP, intellectual disability, hearing impairment excluded.InterventionsAutologous was injected velum trans-orally under endoscopic guidance followed by therapy. Motor-phonetic biofeedback therapies carried out 3 sessions weekly months treat misarticulations residual hypernasality. Speech scores assessed preoperative post-therapy.Main Outcome MeasuresScores of nasal emission, intelligibility, closure.ResultsThe VP significantly improved (P .001, .008, .004, .015 respectively). predictive factors better young age, post-adenoidectomy, small gap, transverse palatal muscles, coronal .02, .005, .002 respectively).ConclusionsFat safe successful best children, gaps. Further studies greater number subjects are needed.