Predictive Factors for Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Following Primary Cleft Palate Repair

Objective: Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) remains a known complication of primary palatoplasty. We sought to identify factors associated with the incidence of VPI and create a predictive model for VPI development in our population. Design: A single-institution, retrospective review. Setting: Multidisciplinary clinic in a tertiary academic institution. Patients: A total of 453 consecutive patients undergoing primary palatoplasty from 1999 to 2016 were reviewed. Inclusion required follow-up past age 5. Patients who were non-verbal, and thus unable to undergo speech evaluation, were excluded. Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcome was VPI, defined as revision palatoplasty or recommendation by speech-language pathology. Results: Of 318 patients included, 179 (56%) were male. Median age at primary repair was 1.0 years (0.9-1.1) with a median age of 8.8 years at last follow-up. One hundred nineteen (37%) patients developed VPI at a median age of 5.0 years (3.8-6.5). Higher rates were seen with posterior fistula (65% vs 14%, P