A study of the long term results achieved by the Gillies Fry procedure

Renewed interest in delayed closure for cleft palate subjects revealed that no evaluation had been undertaken of patients who underwent the original Gillies Fry procedure. In the present investigation, 10 subjects operated upon prior to 1948 according to the Gillies Fry recommendations were evaluated for facial development, occlusal relationship, speech performance and velopharyngeal seal. Comparison of the cephalometric findings with accepted norms and examination of study casts gave encouraging results for facial and occlusal development. Speech quality covered a wide range of attainment, the best being rated highly. Endoscopic examination demonstrated regular velopharyngeal seal during swallowing but only one subject who regularly achieved velopharyngeal seal in speech. It was concluded that, although some claims for the procedure may have been a little enthusiastic, advantages accrued from it which were not accorded by other surgical approaches of the time, particularly so far as facial development and occlusion were concerned.