The modified superiorly based pharyngeal flap. Part IV. Position of the base of the flap.
The modified superiorly based pharyngeal flap surgical technique developed by Epker et al. was performed on 13 patients with moderate to severe hypernasality. The flap base was attached close to the level of the palatal plane and was found to maintain a consistent longitudinal relationship to the level of the atlas. This technique corrected hypernasality in a range of patients with velopharyngeal incompetence, as predicted.