Incidence of Speech-Correcting Surgery in Children With Isolated Cleft Palate

Objective: Speech-correcting surgeries (pharyngoplasty) are performed to correct velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). This study aimed to analyze the need for speech-correcting surgery in children with isolated cleft palate (ICP) and to determine differences among cleft extent, gender, and primary technique used. In addition, we assessed the timing and number of secondary procedures performed and the incidence of operated fistulas. Design: Retrospective medical chart review study from hospital archives and electronic records. Participants: These comprised the 423 consecutive nonsyndromic children (157 males and 266 females) with ICP treated at the Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Center of Helsinki University Hospital during 1990 to 2016. Results: The total incidence of VPI surgery was 33.3% and the fistula repair rate, 7.8%. Children with cleft of both the hard and soft palate (n = 300) had a VPI secondary surgery rate of 37.3% (fistula repair rate 10.7%), whereas children with only cleft of the soft palate (n = 123) had a corresponding rate of 23.6% (fistula repair rate 0.8%). Gender and primary palatoplasty technique were not considered significant factors in need for VPI surgery. The majority of VPI surgeries were performed before school age. One fifth of patients receiving speech-correcting surgery had more than one subsequent procedure. Conclusion: The need for speech-correcting surgery and fistula repair was related to the severity of the cleft. Although the majority of the corrective surgeries were done before the age of 7 years, a considerable number were performed at a later stage, necessitating long-term observation.Peer reviewe

Scandcleft randomised trials of primary surgery for unilateral cleft lip and Palate: 9. Parental report of social and emotional experiences related to their 5-year-old child’s cleft diagnosis

© 2017 Acta Chirurgica Scandinavica Society. Background and aim: Parents of children with a cleft lip and palate may be emotionally affected by the child’s diagnosis. Their experiences and perceptions are important when evaluating the complexity of satisfactory treatment outcomes. The objective was to examine parents’ social and emotional experiences related to their child’s cleft diagnosis, and their perceptions of the child’s adjustment to living with a visible difference. Design: International multicentre study by 10 cleft teams in five countries: Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and the UK. Methods: A cohort of 448 children born with a non-syndromic UCLP were included. A total of 356 parents completed the Scandcleft Parent Questionnaire. Results: The majority of parents experienced practical and emotional support from family, friends, and health professionals. Nevertheless, parents had to cope with other people’s reactions to the cleft, experiences that were described as ranging from hurtful to neutral and/or positive. According to parents, 39% of the children had experienced cleft-related comments and/or teasing. More than half of the parents reported specific worries related to their child’s future. Conclusion: While the majority of the parents experienced positive support and coped well with the child’s diagnosis, some parents were at risk for psychological and emotional challenges that should be identified by the cleft team. To optimise outcomes and the child’s adjustment, these parents should be offered psychological support when necessary. Trial registration: ISRCTN29932826

Scandcleft randomised trials of primary surgery for unilateral cleft lip and palate: 10. Parental perceptions of appearance and treatment outcomes in their 5-year-old child

© 2017 Acta Chirurgica Scandinavica Society. Background and aim: Few studies have explored children’s emotional and behavioural reactions to cleft surgery and treatment-related stress. The objective was to investigate parents’ evaluations of appearance and treatment outcomes in their 5-year-old child with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), and their perceptions of how their child was coping with treatment, comparing this information with recorded postsurgical complications. Design: Three parallel group randomised clinical trials were undertaken as an international multicentre study by 10 cleft teams in five countries: Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and the UK. Methods: Three different surgical procedures for primary palatal repair were tested against a common procedure in the total cohort of 448 children born with a non-syndromic UCLP. A total of 356 parents completed the Scandcleft Parent Questionnaire, and 346 parents completed the Cleft Evaluation Profile. Results: The results indicated that the majority of parents were satisfied with cleft-related features of their child’s appearance. Further, most children coped well with treatment according to their parents. Nevertheless, 17.5% of the children showed minor or short-term reactions after treatment experiences, and 2% had major or lasting difficulties. There were no significant relationships between parent perceptions of treatment-related problems and the occurrence of post-surgical medical complications. Conclusions: Most parents reported satisfaction with their child’s appearance. However, treatment-related problems were described in some children, urging cleft centres to be aware of potential negative emotional and behavioural reactions to treatment in some young children, with a view to preventing the development of more severe treatment-related anxiety. Trial registration: ISRCTN29932826

Le Fort I osteotomy in cleft patients : Maxillary advancement and velopharyngeal function

Background: Maxillary advancement may affect speech in cleft patients. Aims: To evaluate whether the amount of maxillary advancement in Le Fort I osteotomy affects velopharyngeal function (VPF) in cleft patients. Methods: Ninety-three non-syndromic cleft patients (51 females, 42 males) were evaluated retrospectively. All patients had undergone a Le Fort I or bimaxillary (n = 24) osteotomy at Helsinki Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Center. Preoperative and postoperative lateral cephalometric radiographs were digitized to measure the amount of maxillary advancement. Pre- and postoperative speech was assessed perceptually and instrumentally by experienced speech therapists. Student's t-test and ManneWhitney's U-test were used in the statistical analyses. Kappa statistics were calculated to assess reliability. Results: The mean advancement of A point was 4.0 mm horizontally (range: -2.8-11.3) and 3.9 mm vertically (range 14.2-3.9). Although there was a negative change in VPF, the amount of maxillary horizontal or vertical movement did not significantly influence the VPF. There was no difference between the patients with maxillary and bimaxillary osteotomy. Conclusions: The amount of maxillary advancement does not affect the velopharyngeal function in cleft patients. (C) 2019 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Early risk factors for lumbar discectomy: an 11-year follow-up of 57,408 adolescents

There is a lack of longitudinal studies on the risk factors of lumbar discectomy. Using combined population survey and hospital discharge register data in a prospective longitudinal design, we investigated the association between adolescent risk factors and lumbar discectomy until early middle age. A prospective cohort of health survey respondents (n = 57,408) aged 14–18 years was followed for 651,000 person-years (average follow-up, 11.3 years). Study endpoints were lumbar discectomy, death or end of follow-up. Participants’ mean age at the end of follow-up was 27 years. In multivariate Cox’s regression analysis, the significant risk factor for lumbar discectomy among male respondents was daily smoking, HR being 1.5 (95% CI 1.1–2.2). In females, frequent participation in sports clubs (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1–6.3) and overweight (HR 2.1; 95% CI 1.1–4.1) were significantly associated with an increased risk of lumbar discectomy. Daily smoking in males and frequent participation in sports clubs and overweight in females measured at adolescence were statistically associated with lumbar discectomy at an 11-year follow-up, although the hazard ratios were relatively small. Further study of these common risk factors and their modifications may lead to a better understanding of the causes of lumbar disc herniation