[Evaluation of the status of the palatopharyngeal area in children with congenital penetrating cleft palate].

Gypsum models were constructed to study the transversal pharynx width and palate defect in 57 children with congenital opened palate clefts. Age-dependent increase in the defect width was noted and attributed to muscular dystrophy in the soft palate and lateral walls of the pharynx as a result of their dysfunction and hypodynamia.