A preliminary and exploratory investigation of velopharyngeal structural MRI following a modified Z-plasty approach in patients with cleft palate.

Mi Liu, Fugen Ding, Wei He, Qinggao Song

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In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Mi Liu *Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital/School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, No.143, Dalian Road, Zunyi, 563000, China.

Fugen Ding *Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital/School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, No.143, Dalian Road, Zunyi, 563000, China.

Wei HeDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital/School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, No.143, Dalian Road, Zunyi, 563000, China.

Qinggao SongDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital/School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, No.143, Dalian Road, Zunyi, 563000, China. 814641639@qq.com.

Funding

the Joint fund of Zunyi Science and Technology Bureau KY2020-3

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

To validate and refine the existing understanding of the effectiveness of modified Z-plasty in cleft palate patients by comparing postoperative velopharyngeal function with that of healthy non-cleft individuals using MRI. The study involved six adults one year after modified Z-plasty and fourteen adults with healthy palates. MRI was used to assess the levator veli palatini (LVP) muscle and velopharyngeal structures during rest and phonation, including measurements of soft palate length and thickness. Patients post-modified Z-plasty demonstrated restored LVP muscle trajectory and contractility, yet differences in velopharyngeal dimensions persisted compared to the control group. MRI is a valuable tool for assessing velopharyngeal function. Modified Z-plasty can improve, but not fully normalize, velopharyngeal structures and function in cleft palate patients. These findings provide a reference for future optimization of surgical techniques and rehabilitation strategies in cleft palate repair.

Indexed as

Cleft PalateMagnetic Resonance ImagingPalate, SoftVelopharyngeal InsufficiencyAdultFemaleHumansMalePalatal MusclesYoung Adult3D reconstructionCleft palateLevator veli palatini muscleMagnetic resonance imagingModified Z-Plasty

Identifiers

PMID41290843

DOI10.1038/s41598-025-25797-5

PMCPMC12647584

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.