Specialists Versus Trainees: Long-Term Secondary Deformity After Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair

Unilateral cleft lip repair is a common procedure in plastic and reconstructive surgery to restore both function and aesthetics. The long-term outcomes of these surgeries can be influenced by various factors, including the experience and position of the surgeon performing the procedure. This study aims to investigate whether there is a significant difference in long-term secondary deformities based on whether the surgery was performed by a specialist or a trainee.

This is a retrospective cross-sectional study among unilateral cleft lip patients based on their data records. The study aims to assess the long-term secondary deformity in relation to the position of the surgeon (specialist or trainee) in patients who underwent unilateral cleft lip repair surgery at the Reconstructive Sciences Unit at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM).

Of the 50 patients, the majority (74%) were operated on by a specialist with more than five years of experience. Only 13 patients (26%) were operated on by trainees in the plastic and reconstructive surgery training program. Long-term secondary deformity had no significant relationship with the surgeon's position (chi-squared (χ²)(1) = 5.89, p = 0.08).

Long-term secondary deformities were less likely following unilateral cleft lip repair performed by a specialist or senior surgeon. However, the relationship between these secondary deformities and the surgeon's position (specialist or trainee) was statistically insignificant. Therefore, this study urges trainees to be more involved in simple cleft surgeries to enhance their surgical skills and achieve the best outcomes.