Otologic and audiologic status of Russian children with cleft lip and palate

Objective: In this study, researchers evaluated the otologic and audiologic status of 112 children with repaired cleft lip and palate who had received primary palatal repair by means of Frolova palatoplasty, a surgical techni que developed by Dr. Larisa Y, Frolova, founder and director of the Nationa l Pediatric Center for Congenital Maxillofacial Pathology, Moscow, Russia. Design: Results of hearing thresholds and tympanograms for these Russian ch ildren were compared with data previously reported from a group of 48 child ren and adults with repaired cleft lip and palate at the University of Flor ida Craniofacial Center, Gainesville, Florida. Results: There were no substantial differences in hearing thresholds betwee n the two groups, which was surprising in view of the vast differences betw een middle ear management techniques used in Russia and the United States. Conclusions: Considering these findings and the growing body of literature favoring a more conservative approach to the management of middle ear effus ion in infants with cleft lip and palate, a reexamination of otologic strat egies in the United States seems advisable.