Influence of surgical technique and timing of primary repair on interarch relationship in UCLP: A randomized clinical trial

Objective To compare dental arch relationships in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) between two surgical techniques for repair of cleft lip/palate and two ages of palate repair. Settings and Sample Dental models were taken for a group of 448 subjects at a mean age of 7 years and were evaluated by means of the Goslon Yardstick. The patients studied consisted of an initial group of 673 infants with complete UCLP randomized into 8 study groups according to lip repair procedures (Millard versus Spina techniques); palate repair procedures (von Langenbeck versus Furlow techniques); and palate repair timing (early: 9 to 12 months versus late: 15‐18 months). Methods Four surgeons performed all surgeries. Dependent variables included the following: lip repair technique, palate repair technique, age at time of palate repair and surgeon; with sex as an independent variable. The data were analysed using a general linear model (P