Predictors of complication for alveolar cleft bone graft

We have analysed the predictors of postoperative complications and the need for reoperation after grafting of the alveolar cleft from one specialised cleft centre. The data were obtained from hospital casenotes of patients operated on from December 2004 to April 2010, with a minimum one-year follow-up from the final operation. Independent variables included postoperative complications and the need for reoperation. Conditional variables were sex, age, type of cleft, sides affected, donor area, type of graft material, and the presence of an erupted tooth in contact with the cleft. A total of 71 patients had bone grafted on to the alveolar cleft. The following associations were found to be significant: postoperative complications and need for reoperation (p=0.003); age and complications (p=0.002); affected side and complications (p=0.006); age and reoperation (p=0.000); sex and reoperation (p=0.001); and type of cleft and reoperation (p=0.001). Proper attention should be given to all the variables and risk factors to overcome the many obstacles that might have an adverse influence on a successful outcome of alveolar bone grafting for patients with clefts.