A multicentre comparison of treatment regimens for unilateral cleft lip and palate using a multiple regression model

The European Cleft Lip and Palate Research Group consists of specialists in orthodontics from six centres for the treatment of cleft palate in northern Europe. The purpose of this part of the multicentre study was to investigate whether differences in outcomes could be explained by specific treatment regimens. Three regimens that were assumed to influence the outcome of treatment were selected: Presurgical orthopaedics, closure of the palate, and primary bone grafting. The sample comprised 151 children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate from the six centres. The result of multiple regression analysis showed that within that sample it was not possible to reach definite conclusions as to which factors exerted the most favourable influence on facial growth, but primary bone grafting was associated with reduced maxillary inclination and presurgical orthopedics with increased mandibular inclination.