Evaluation of interdisciplinary treatment outcomes in patients with cleft lip and palate. Part 1.

Cleft palate is the most common congenital defect within

the facial skeleton. Coexisting facial deformations are not

only visible, but also audible after surgery – children born

with cleft lip and palate belong to the risk group for occurrence

of speech-language disorders. Due to this fact, they may face inappropriate responses of people around, which may cause

poor mental condition. Majority of subjects (ca. 67 percent)

experienced unpleasant feelings caused by people around

them and noticed contribution of the cleft to lowered selfconfidence.

Almost 56 percent of the studied group notices

influence of this congenital defect on ability to establish social

relationships, and 33 percent – on results achieved at school.

Aim. The main aim of the study was to evaluate efficacy of

treatment in patients with cleft lip and palate as well as

usefulness of applied research tools (questionnaire, GOSLON

score). Material and methods. Study material included a group

of 45 subjects with unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate,

who completed multidisciplinary treatment. Mean age of the

subjects was 22 years. The study was conducted at the

Outpatient Orthodontic Clinic of the University Dentistry

Centre of the Medical University of Gdansk. Research methods

included evaluation of the occlusal abnormalities before and

after treatment using GOSLON score, questionnaire completed

by the patient, and specialist speech-language examination.

Results. The highest percentage of satisfied patients was

observed among subjects, who underwent orthodontic

treatment (ca. 90 percent), which corresponded with

established improvement in occlusal conditions after treatment.

Appearance of the respective facial areas was mainly defined

as good or very good. It was also noticed that the more the

patient was satisfied with speech-language therapy, the more

he/she was satisfied with speech quality. Conclusions.

Evaluation of final outcomes of the multidisciplinary treatment

in patients with cleft lip and palate constitutes high clinical

significance in order to make further development and to

evaluate currently used therapeutic management standards.

(Racka-Pilszak B, Wojtaszek-Słomińska A, Zdun-Ryżewska

A, Majkowicz M, Banaszkiewicz A, Basiński K. Evaluation

of interdisciplinary treatment outcomes in patients with

cleft lip and palate. Part 1. Orthod Forum 2018; 14: 270-

83).