A MULTICENTER COMPARISON OF TREATMENT REGIMENS FOR UNILATERAL CLEFT-LIP AND PALATE USING A MULTIPLE-REGRESSION MODEL

The European Cleft Lip and Palate Research Group consists of specialis ts in orthodontics from six centres for the treatment of cleft palate in northern Europe, The purpose of this part of the multicentre study was to investigate whether differences in outcomes could be explained by specific treatment regimens. Three regimens that were assumed to in fluence the outcome of treatment were selected: Presurgical orthopaedi cs, closure of the palate, and primary bone grafting. The sample compr ised 151 children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate from t he six centres. The result of multiple regression analysis showed that within that sample it was not possible to reach definite conclusions as to which factors exerted the most favourable influence on facial gr owth, but primary bone grafting was associated with reduced maxillary inclination and presurgical orthopedics with increased mandibular incl ination.