Long-term results in surgical treatment of cleft lips and palates

Of a total of 3681 operations for hare lip and cleft palate, 139 patients operated between 1951 and 1975 were compared with the aid of exact measurements of the impressions to ascertain whether early orthodontic treatment had an influence on the growing maxilla. 49% of 200 patients who were followed up had normal speach, 39% had minimal disturbances of articulation, in 12% of the patients the speach was poor. In 13 out of 16 of these patients pharyngoplasty improved the speach.