Submucosa/Mucosal Pharyngeal Flap Trial

The investigators want to compare two different surgical techniques for the treatment of a condition called velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD). VPD is a condition in which the nasal part of the airway does not close properly during speaking and feeding. The current standard surgical management involves taking a pharyngeal flap from the back of the throat comprised of muscle and overlying mucosal tissue to create a functioning valve. The proposed technique would use only the mucosal/submucosal layer of the pharynx for the flap. This technique has been shown to be effective in animal models and it is hoped that it will lead to faster healing, lower complications and improved functional outcome for patients.