Does Cleft Palate Width Correlate With Veau Classification and Outcome?.

Purpose: Wider cleft palates are thought to be associated with increased complications and poorer outcomes following cleft palate repair. Objective cleft palate photographic measurement and assessment of complications have not been previously performed. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively characterize a series of cleft palate dimensions and to investigate possible correlations with Veau classification and intra-, peri-, and postoperative outcomes. Methods: The analytic sample included primary cleft palate repairs performed by the senior author over a 2-year period. Standard photographs of clefts taken at the time of repair were analyzed using Image-J software. Demographic, intraoperative, perioperative, and postoperative information were collected. Width measurements were correlated with Veau classification, intraoperative variables, perioperative variables, and adverse outcomes. Statistical tests performed included simple regression analyses and multiple regression analysis. Results: Out of 70 patients, 50 had adequate photographic documentation for inclusion in the study; 44% of patients were classified as Veau I with an average cleft width of 5.4 mm, 28% Veau II with an average of 8.9 mm, 16% Veau III with an average of 11.3 mm, and 12% Veau IV with an average of 10.0 mm. No patients exhibited postoperative bleeding, dehiscence, airway problems, infection, fistula formation, or return to the operating room. The authors found that increasing cleft width significantly predicts increasing Veau classification (P

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