[Long-term effects of cleft lip repair taking into account of life lot of operated patients] Annales Academiae Medicae Stetinensis [Ann Acad Med Stetin] Journal article

AIM: The purpose of the study was the estimation of late aesthetic and functional results after the treatment of the primary or primary and secondary cleft palate. We also analysed the cleft impact upon the patients' social lives.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was conducted on 50 individuals in the ages of 17 to 54, including 29 patients with complete primary and secondary cleft palate and 21 patients with primary cleft palate only. The following parameters were evaluated in the patients: general appearance of the face and detailed states of the lip, nose and occlusion. The self-assessment of the examined individuals and the facial cleft impact upon their social lives was taken under consideration.
RESULTS: The facial aesthetics was judged as positive in 80% of the cases and the correlation between the authors' assessment and self-assessment of the patients was similar. Patients with an unilateral cleft lip achieved better aesthetic and functional results of the lip. However, individuals with a bilateral cleft lip achieved the better nasal shape. Occlusion was incorrect in 64% of the examined patients. Almost all of them continue their secondary level education and university studies. Some of them work in the professions they have been trained in. 38% of them are married or have constant partners and 32% of them have children.
CONCLUSION: The plan of multidisciplinary treatment of a cleft lip and palate allows to obtain positive late results. Early psychological and pedagogical care procedures towards patients and their families facilitate proper mutual social relations, improves their self-assessment and prevent social troubles.

Annales Academiae Medicae Stetinensis [Ann Acad Med Stetin]