1. Autologous fat transfer in velopharyngeal insufficiency: indications and results of a 25 procedures series.
- Author
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Leboulanger N, Blanchard M, Denoyelle F, Glynn F, Charrier JB, Roger G, Monteil JP, and Garabedian EN
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Child, Cohort Studies, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Recovery of Function, Retrospective Studies, Risk Assessment, Severity of Illness Index, Time Factors, Transplantation, Autologous, Treatment Outcome, Adipose Tissue transplantation, Velopharyngeal Insufficiency diagnosis, Velopharyngeal Insufficiency surgery
- Abstract
Objective: To assess the efficiency of autologous fat transfer (AFT/Coleman procedure) in the management of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI)., Settings: Tertiary academic center, retrospective case series over a 4 year period. Pre- and post-speech assessment by a speech pathologist using the Borel-Maisonny scale., Patients and Method: Twenty-five (25) procedures were performed on 22 patients during the considered period. Mean age at surgery was 12.4 ± 4.1 years-old. Main associated conditions were 22q11 deletion (n=6 including 2 with cleft palate), isolated cleft palate (n=3), and Robin sequence (n=2). Indications were VPI grade 2a (n=5), 2b (n=11) and 3 (n=6), despite prolonged speech therapy (pre-op mean duration: 4.2 years) and previous surgery (velopharyngoplasty, n=13). Four patients had a contraindication of velopharyngoplasty (aberrant internal carotid arteries)., Results and Conclusion: Fat harvesting sites were umbilicus (n=23) and buttock (n=2). Mean injected fat volume was 7.8 ml, in the posterior wall of the pharynx (n=25) the soft palate (n=15), the peritonsillar arches (n=3), and the pre-existing flap (n=3). Mean follow-up was 17 months. Two patients relapsed once and one patient twice, requiring additional injections. Final post-operative examination 1 year after the last procedure showed an improvement of speech in 90% of cases (grade 1, n=2; 1/2a, n=5; 2a n=10; 2b, n=5). AFT is a safe technique indicated in the primary and secondary management of VPI, with stable results on speech. However, if a complete return to normal is difficult to achieve, its simplicity allows multiple procedures in the same patient., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2011
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