Assessment of variation in Soft palate Morphology and Velopharyngeal incompetence using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in Tamil Nadu population - a retrospective study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The soft palate is an anatomical feature that influences the speech and respiration while the patient is swallowing. Soft palate dysfunctions are typically observed in patients with cleft palate and obstructive sleep apnoea. Understanding the morphological variations of the soft palate can aid in improved patient management and also serving as a predictor of the patient's age and gender.
AIM: The present study aimed at investigating the variations in soft palate morphology in age groups and gender, thereby assessing Velopharyngeal incompetency using CBCT in Tamil Nadu population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of 70 CBCT scans of individuals aged between 15 and 45 years. The velar morphology was examined and grouped into six types. Data was analysed by using statistical software SPSS version 27.0. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out to assess the association of morphological variants among age groups and shape of soft palate. The probability value p≤0.05 was considered as significant.
RESULT: The most frequent type of soft palate was Crook shaped (37.14%). The mean VL and VW values were significantly higher in males while PD and Need’s ratio were higher among females, insignificantly associated with the types of soft palate. 
CONCLUSION: The soft palate morphology may aid in assessment of velopharyngeal insufficiency using CBCT. This study found no evidence of sexual dimorphism.