Treatment results at 10, 15, and 18 years of age in patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate: an intercenter comparison.

Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the skeletal treatment outcome in patients aged 18 years with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate who received their complete treatment until early adulthood in two centers with different treatment protocols. Design : Twenty-two patients (13 from center 1, nine from center 2) with complete primary bilateral cleft lip alveolus and palate were included. Lateral cephalograms were studied at the ages of 10 (T(1)), 15 (T(2)), and 18 (T(3)) years. Sagittal, vertical, and dental parameters were measured and compared. Statistics included tests for normal distribution, a three-way analysis of variance, and bilateral t tests for associated and nonassociated random samples with the significance level p < .05. Results : Data from center 1 showed a significant decrease in ANB, WITs appraisal, and NL-NSL and an increase in Ui/NL. Data from center 2 showed a significant increase in SNB; a decrease in ANB, WITs appraisal, and ML-NSL; and an increase in Ui/NL. The intercenter comparison of means at the end of treatment (T(3)) revealed no significant differences for any parameter, despite few significant differences at T(1) and T(2). Conclusion : The different treatment concepts did not yield significant differences in treatment outcome at early adulthood. All final skeletal parameters were comparable to those of patients without a cleft. These results indicate treatment execution may be more important than the treatment protocol.