Eustachian Tube Function in the Rhesus Monkey Model of Cleft Palate

Abstract

Past studies showed that surgical clefting of the palate resulted in impaired active eustachian tube (ET) function and otitis media with effusion (OME) in a Rhesus monkey model. In the present study, this model was used to evaluate the effect of palatal healing on ET function in eight juvenile Rhesus monkeys. Following insertion of bilateral tympanostomy tubes and collection of baseline ET function data, the soft palate was surgically clefted to the right of the midline, and bilateral ET function tests were repeated weekly until the cleft had healed. Results showed that tubal function was severely compromised on the right side but was relatively unaffected on the left side following surgical clefting; active muscular-assisted function was more affected than the passive function; and the abnormal function was reversible with healing of the cleft. Utitis media with effusion (OME) commonly afflicts children with palatal clefts (Stool and Randall, 1967; Paradise et a1, 1969). Following palatoplasty, an im— provement in eustachian tube (ET) function and a decrease in the prevalence and incidence of OME have been reported (Bluestone, 1971; Harle and Munker, 1980). However, the prevalence of OMB in children with repaired cleft palate remains higher than for the general pediat-ric population. In previous studies, it has been suggested that a functional obstruc-Drs. Casselbrant, Doyle, and Cantekin are associated with the