<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<italic>Objective:</italic> To evaluate and compare the primary surgical outcomes of complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients in two New Zealand cleft care centres.
<italic>Methods:</italic> This is a retrospective study of two providers of cleft care in New Zealand: Centre A in the North Island and Centre B in the South Island of New Zealand. Pre-orthodontic study models were evaluated from 28 UCLP patients from Centre A with primary surgical repairs performed between 1987–1999 and 31 UCLP patients from Centre B with primary surgical repairs performed between 1984–2000. Dental arch relationships were measured using the Goslon Yardstick. A Goslon score of 1 is considered to be an excellent outcome, whereas a score of 5 is a very poor treatment outcome.
<italic>Results:</italic> Intra- (Kappa: 0.84 – 0.93) and inter-examiner (Kappa: 0.63 – 0.69) reliabilities revealed good to very good agreement between examiners using the Goslon Yardstick. The mean Goslon score for Centre A was 3.5, with no cases in Group 1, five cases in Group 2 (17.9 per cent), nine cases in Group 3 (32.1 per cent), 11 cases in Group 4 (39.3 per cent) and three cases in Group 5 (10.7 per cent). The mean score for Centre B was 3.1, with one case in Group 1 (3.2 per cent), nine cases in Group 2 (29.0 per cent), eight cases in Group 3 (25.8 per cent), 11 cases in Group 4 (35.5 per cent) and two cases in Group 5 (6.5 per cent). There were no statistically significant differences between the two centres (<italic>p</italic> > 0.05).
<italic>Conclusions:</italic> The outcome scores from the two cleft centres, based on historic records, were disappointing and higher than expected. It is recommended that a review of primary surgical protocols be implemented to ensure outcomes comparable with international standards. The results provide useful benchmarks for future comparisons of treatment.
</abstract>

Objective: To evaluate and compare the primary surgical outcomes of complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients in two New Zealand cleft care centres.
Methods: This is a retrospective study of two providers of cleft care in New Zealand: Centre A in the North Island and Centre B in the South Island of New Zealand. Pre-orthodontic study models were evaluated from 28 UCLP patients from Centre A with primary surgical repairs performed between 1987–1999 and 31 UCLP patients from Centre B with primary surgical repairs performed between 1984–2000. Dental arch relationships were measured using the Goslon Yardstick. A Goslon score of 1 is considered to be an excellent outcome, whereas a score of 5 is a very poor treatment outcome.
Results: Intra- (Kappa: 0.84 – 0.93) and inter-examiner (Kappa: 0.63 – 0.69) reliabilities revealed good to very good agreement between examiners using the Goslon Yardstick. The mean Goslon score for Centre A was 3.5, with no cases in Group 1, five cases in Group 2 (17.9 per cent), nine cases in Group 3 (32.1 per cent), 11 cases in Group 4 (39.3 per cent) and three cases in Group 5 (10.7 per cent). The mean score for Centre B was 3.1, with one case in Group 1 (3.2 per cent), nine cases in Group 2 (29.0 per cent), eight cases in Group 3 (25.8 per cent), 11 cases in Group 4 (35.5 per cent) and two cases in Group 5 (6.5 per cent). There were no statistically significant differences between the two centres (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: The outcome scores from the two cleft centres, based on historic records, were disappointing and higher than expected. It is recommended that a review of primary surgical protocols be implemented to ensure outcomes comparable with international standards. The results provide useful benchmarks for future comparisons of treatment.

Evaluation of primary surgical outcomes in New Zealand patients with unilateral clefts of the lip and palate

Orthodontic Department, School of Dentistry

Australasian Orthodontic Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the primary surgical outcomes of complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients in two New Zealand cleft care...

Evaluation of primary surgical outcomes in New Zealand patients with unilateral clefts of the lip and palate

Published Online: Aug 01, 2023

Page range: 23 - 27

Received: Jun 01, 2010

Accepted: Dec 01, 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoj-2011-0005

© 2011 Hannah C. Jack et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.