Late results of multidisciplinary management of unilateral cleft lip and palate

A model was designed for evaluating protocol and management strategies in the multidisciplinary approach to cleft lip and palate treatment. The treatment history and present status of 45 patients 14 to 22 years of age were evaluated by a plastic surgeon, orthodontist, and speech pathologist. Results indicated that only about half of these patients had completed treatment by one of the specialties by the time they were 14 years or older. Even more surprisingly, only 7 patients (16%) had completed treatment by all three specialties by this age. Factors that may contribute to this low percentage of completed treatments are discussed.