Palatal eversion: a new technique in treatment of nasopharyngeal stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: The treatment of nasopharyngeal stenosis is challenging because of a high incidence of recurrence after surgical correction. Therefore, many treatment modalities are being tried to cure this problem. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of palatal eversion as a new technique for treatment of nasopharyngeal stenosis after adenotonsillectomy.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series.

METHODS: This study was conducted on 12 patients with nasopharyngeal stenosis after adenotonsillectomy were subjected to treatment by palatal eversion by dividing the soft palate in the midline and removal of the fibrous tissue causing stenosis followed by evertion and fixation of the two palatal division on either side for six weeks to allow complete epithelialization of the stenotic area followed by another operation to reunion the soft palate in the midline. Post-operative follow up was done for one year by flexible nasopharyngoscopy, perceptual speech analysis and polysomnography.

RESULTS: Flexible nasopharyngosopic examination of the 12 patients at the end of post-operative period revealed a freely mobile soft palate with no nasopharyngeal stenosis or palatal fistula. Velopharyngeal function and speech assessment by perceptual speech analysis was normal in all 12 cases. No obstructive episodes were recorded in polysomnograms.

CONCLUSIONS: Palatal eversion is a promising technique in treatment of post-adenotonsillectomy nasopharyngeal stenosis and it is recommended to be used in a wider scale of patients and other indications as nasopharyngeal stenosis following uvulopalatoplasty and post nasopharyngeal radiotherapy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 (case series).