Evaluation of unilateral cleft lip and palate treatment: long term results

Fifty-seven consecutive complete unilateral cleft lip and palate patients were followed longitudinally from birth to 21 years of age. All patients were operated with the same primary surgical procedures. Reevaluation at age 21 with respect to speech, dental condition, need for secondary surgery, and skeletal and soft tissue facial growth was completed. Speech results indicated that 13 patients (23 percent) had required a pharyngeal flap, and that at age 21 only one patient still had unacceptable speech. The majority of patients had slight speech disturbances related to articulation and voice quality. Fifty-one patients had acceptable occlusion following orthodontic treatment, twenty-two patients (39 percent) without need for prosthodontic treatment of the cleft area. Secondary surgery for correction of nasal deformities was required for fifty-two patients. Growth analysis demonstrated deficiency in growth; however, normal and acceptable profiles were obtained in 50/57 of the patients.