Velopharyngeal insufficiency managed by autologous fat grafting in patients with aberrant courses of internal carotid arteries

Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is usually managed, besides speech therapy, by performing a velopharyngoplasty. An alternate approach is autologous fat grafting (AFG) of the posterior pharyngeal wall. About 5% of the population has internal carotid arteries (ICA) with an aberrant course. This anatomic variation can be responsible for surgical difficulties while when performing a velopharyngoplasty, and therefore lead surgeons to only consider a speech reeducation of VPI. However, AFG is does not bear such surgical morbidity.

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