[Laryngological effects of palatal suture expansion].

INTRODUCTION The aim of the study was the assessment of the influence ofmidpalatal or maxillary suture expansion on laryngeal and audiologic changes in treated patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD The study comprised 30 patients, 19 female and 11 male aged from 10 years 6 months to 30 years 1 month. All of them were treated for severe maxillary constriction by the use of rapid maxillary expansion with palatal suture opening. The laryngeal and audiologic assessment has been based on specialized consultations and self-assessment of the examined patients. RESULTS After palatal suture expansion, an improvement in free nasal breathing assessed by the examined patients has been observed in 82% patients from group I and 67.67% patients from group II. After palatal suture expansion, an improvement in conductive hearing impairment ranging 15-20 dB has been observed in all examined patients, who had that disorder before the treatment. CONCLUSIONS Palatal suture expansion has improved statistically and significantly free nasal breathing as estimated by the examined patients. After palatal suture expansion an improvement in conductive hearing impairment has been observed ranging 15-20 dB. The improvement in conductive hearing impairment was due to restored normal function of the openings of the auditory tubes. No statistically significant influence of palatal suture opening on the size of enlarged palate and pharyngeal tonsils and uprighting of deviated nasal septum has been observed.