Cleft Lip Repair Research Articles

Enhancing the vermilion in adult secondary cleft lip repair with a continuous V plasty without closure of the donor defect-a case series

The aim of this paper was to describe a modification to an old method to enhance the vermillion in adult cleft patients.We present ten consecutive patients who requested enhancement of the upper lip vermillion. The technique involves a continuous V plasty within the non-visible mucosa to elevate the vermillion. Each V incision is of a different size to match the defect. Then the V flaps are sutured to one another but the donor defect is left open to epithelialise. Adjunctive procedures are possible at the same time. There were no major complications but one patient was over corrected and needed reduction of mucosa.The technique offers a permanent enhancement of the vermillion and is a safe alternative to other methods of lip augmentation including fillers.

Surgical Management of Oro-Facial Clefts at a Tertiary Care Hospital in a Resource-Limited Setting: A Tanzanian Experience

Background: Orofacial clefts are the most common craniofacial anomalies in most parts of the world and its management remains a challenge to otorhinolaryngology, plastic/reconstructive, oral and maxillofacial surgeons practicing in resource limited countries. There is limited data on surgical management of these birth defects in Tanzania and Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) in particular. This study aimed to describe our own experience regarding the surgical management of orofacial clefts at BMC, a tertiary care hospital in Tanzania. Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving all children with orofacial clefts that were treated at BMC between February 2019 and June 2019. Results: A total of 98 patients with orofacial clefts were recruited. Males outnumbered males by a male to female ratio of 1.7:1. The majority of patients (64.3%) were within 12 months at presentation. The median ages at surgery in patients with cleft lip and those with cleft palate were 3 [IQR, 2 to 8] and 11(IQR, 7 to 18) months, respectively. Orofacial clefts in association with congenital anomalies were recorded in 5(5.1%) patients. More than half of patients (55.1%) had combined cleft lip and palate. Unilateral clefts, 77(78.5%) were more common and showed left side preponderance in 52(53.1%) patients. All patients underwent cleft surgery under general anesthesia. Millard rotation advancement flap repair and von-Langenbeck were the most common techniques of cleft lip and palate repair performed in 42(52.5%) and 30 (41.7%) patients, respectively. The overall complication rate was 14.3% and the most common postoperative complications were bleeding, palatal fistula, wound dehiscence and surgical site infections in 6(31.6%), 4(21.1%) and 3(15.8%) each respectively. No death was recorded in this study. Among the 98 patients operated, 79 were treated successfully giving an overall success rate of 80.6%. The success rate was significantly influenced by nutrition status (p= 0.010), co-existing con

A Scoping Review of Adjuvant Perioperative Therapies for Primary Cleft Lip Repair

Background:To date, there is little guidance regarding current adjuvant therapies for primary surgical repair of cleft lip. There are studies on the effect of botulinum toxin type A, revision fat grafting, silicone gel and sheeting, intense pulsed light, and carbon dioxide lasers to ameliorate contracture and hypertrophic scar formation, but a comprehensive review of these options is lacking. The aim of this scoping review is to examine adjuvant techniques and therapies that modulate scar outcomes for primary cleft lip repair outcomes in the perioperative period. Methods: PROSPERO, PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrial.gov were searched for studies that evaluated adjuvant therapies for primary cleft lip repair. Results: The initial search resulted in 688 studies, with 48 studies including relevant key terms in the title and abstract screening. After the full-text screening, 11 studies were included in the final scoping review. These included 3 studies about use of botulinum toxin injection, 2 studies about fat grafting, 2 studies about nasal stents, and 4 studies about various topical treatments. In the Jadad quality index evaluation and MINORS assessment of the methodological quality of the included papers, there was a strong level of agreement among the 2 raters respectively (weighted κ = 1, κ = 0.817, both P-value < .0001). Conclusion: From this scoping review, adjuvant therapies such as utilizing botulinum toxin and immediate fat grafting intraoperatively and nasal stents and topical treatments including antibiotic ointment, lidocaine, hydrogen peroxide, and silicone gels postoperatively are worthwhile to consider as a combination of adjuvant treatments to prevent adverse scar formation in patients undergoing primary cleft lip repair. The most robust evidence lies with botulinum toxin use.

A Novel Neurovascular Protection Method In Nasolabial Muscle Biomechanical Bionic Surgery For Secondary Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair: A Three-Dimensional Evaluation Of Short And Long-Term Results.

Neurovascular protection within the upper lip muscles is essential in muscle tension reconstruction and functional recovery during surgery. This study aimed to investigate a novel neurovascular protection method based on the intramuscular neurovascular partitions of the upper lip applied to nasolabial muscle biomechanical bionic surgery for secondary unilateral cleft lip repair and to evaluate postoperative outcomes. From November 30, 2019 to October 31, 2020, 50 consecutive patients with secondary unilateral cleft lips who underwent the modified biomechanical bionic surgery were reviewed retrospectively. Three-dimensional (3D) photographs of patients were collected preoperatively, 7-day postoperatively, and during long-term follow-up (at least 6 months). The Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale was used to evaluate surgical subjective outcomes, and statistical analysis of nasolabial measurements on 3D photographs was used to evaluate objective outcomes before and after surgery. The Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale showed that 94% of patients had improved upper lip morphology and 92% had improved nasal morphology 7-day postoperatively. In all, 84% maintained favorable nasolabial morphology during long-term follow-up. Statistical results showed that the postoperative alar width, philtral depth, columellar angle, and nasal base inclination angle were significantly improved compared with preoperatively (P<0.01). The differences between the above 4 indexes were not statistically significant (P >0.05) between 7-day postoperatively and long-term follow-up, indicating that the postoperative lasting outcomes were satisfactory. The novel method of neurovascular protection in nasolabial muscle biomechanical bionic surgery can achieve a long-term improvement of labial-nasal morphology and function in patients with secondary unilateral cleft lip.

Age at Initial Cleft Lip Repair Among Children in Al Madinah Region.

Cleft lip and palate consists of a wide spectrum of anomalies affecting the oral cavity and lips and can have enduring adverse effects on health. The age at which surgical interventions are done is crucial as it can influence the outcomes. This study aimed to determine the age at which initial cleft lip repairs were performed and the proportion of individuals who underwent additional surgeries to address post-repair complications. A cross-sectional study involving 120 participants was conducted. Data was collected by distributing an online questionnaire to parents of children who had undergone initial cleft lip repair in the Al Madinah region. The study found that the average age for the initial cleft lip repair in Medina is 0.46 ± 0.27 years. Post-repair complications were observed, including hearing loss in 10.9% of children, heavy breathing issues in 32.8%, an imbalance in facial expression in 47.9%, and swallowing problems in 3.4% of children even after surgery. Approximately 40% of parents sought further procedures to mitigate complications. The study indicated that the first cleft lip repair in Medina typically occurs during the first year of life. However, more extensive research is needed to assess the efficacy of procedures within the city. Further studies should be conducted to provide a more comprehensive understanding of these conditions and the outcomes of their treatments.

Treatment Modalities to Achieve Nasal Symmetry in Unilateral Cleft Lip/Nasal Deformity: An Objective and Comparative Evaluation.

Primary cleft lip repair techniques do not address the nasal deformity adequately resulting in nasal asymmetry. Maneuvers employed to minimize this have varying degrees of success. To assess the outcome of different treatment modalities employed to establish nasal symmetry in unilateral cleft lip. 100 patients with complete unilateral cleft lip/ palate operated for primary cheiloplasty with modified Millard's rotation advancement technique were divided into five groups. Group 1: lip repair alone, Group 2: NAM followed by lip repair, Group 3: lip repair followed by placement of conformers, Group 4: NAM followed by lip repair and placement of conformers, Group 5: lip repair with semi-open rhinoplasty. Objective assessment was done using measurable parameters after 12months post-operatively on a 1:1 standard photograph. Group 5 showed statistical significance in all parameters assessed. Progressive improvement in nasal symmetry was noted from Group 1 to Group V. In our study, group V, i.e., modified Millard's repair with semi-open rhinoplasty improved the results in terms of all the objective parameters assessed. The results of the other groups showed improvement though not consistent in all parameters. Naso-alveolar molding is an effective adjunct. Additionally, nasal conformers proved to be of great value in retaining the results obtained post-surgery.

A National Assessment of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cleft Lip Repair.

This study examined the impact of patient race/ethnicity on the likelihood of experiencing delays to surgery, post-operative surgical complications, and prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS) following primary cleft lip (CL) repair. Patients who underwent CL repair were identified in the 2006-2012 Kids' Inpatient Database. Primary outcomes were defined as treatment after 6-months-old, presence of any surgical complication, LOS >1 day, and total hospital charges. Multivariable analyses were performed to adjust for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics that might account for differences in outcomes. There were 5927 eligible patients with cleft lip: 3724 White, 279 Black, 1316 Hispanic, 277 Asian/Pacific-Islander, and 331 other race/ethnicity. Across all outcomes, there were significant unadjusted differences (p<0.001) by race/ethnicity, with White children having the lowest odds of delayed surgery, complications, and prolonged LOS, and the lowest charges. Multivariable analyses suggested that differences in baseline health status may account for much of this disparity in combination with factors such as income, insurance type, and location. Even after adjusting for co-variates, significantly increased odds of delayed surgery and higher charges remained for Hispanic and Asian/PI patients. There are significant differences in the odds of delays, complications, prolonged hospital stays, and total charges among CL patients of different race/ethnicity. Advocacy efforts to ameliorate disparity in early infant health may subsequently improve equity in cleft outcomes.

An Objective Evaluation of Cleft Lip Repair Deformities Based on Standardized Photographic Views.

Several assessment systems of the cleft-related facial deformity have been reported in the medical literature. Assessments have been made from direct clinical evaluations, photographs, on-screen digital images, and 3-dimensional imaging. An evaluation method based on standardized photographic views is developed to evaluate the most common postoperative deformities and to detect the responsible factors for occurrence of these deformities and how to avoid them. One hundred forty-five cleft lip cases (105 unilateral and 40 bilateral) were evaluated by using standard sheet and scoring system designed by Operation Smile Inc (Virginia Beach). The scoring system is based on photographic analysis of items including Cupid's bow, nasal symmetry, vermilion contour, white roll continuity, and scar quality. In the unilateral cleft cases, we found 0.4% excellent, 48.57% good, 38% fair, and 2.85% poor cases. For bilateral clef lip cases, we found 27.5% excellent, 47.5% good, 17.5% fair, and 7.5% poor outcomes. The most common postoperative deformities were nasal asymmetry, scar hypertrophy, deformed Cupid's bow, and vermilion contour asymmetry. This objective evaluation system can determine the common cleft lip nasal deformities with detection of the responsible factors. Principles that guide optimum surgical repair have been advocated to avoid the common postoperative deformities. Scar formation is an independent factor that must be managed early and separately to maintain surgical outcomes.

Measuring the Unilateral Cleft Lip Nasal Deformity: Lateral Deviation of Subnasale Is a Clinical and Morphologic Index of Unrepaired Severity.

Objective measurement of pre-operative severity is important to optimize evidence-based practices given that the wide spectrum of presentation likely influences outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of objective measures of form with a subjective standard of cleft severity. 3D images were ranked according to severity of nasal deformity by 7 cleft surgeons so that the mean rank could be used as the severity standard. 45 patients with unilateral cleft lip and 5 normal control subjects. Each image was assessed using traditional anthropometric analysis, 3D landmark displacements, and shape-based analysis to produce 81 indices for each subject. The correlation of objective measurements with the clinical severity standard. Lateral deviation of subnasale from midline was the best predictor of severity (0.86). Other strongly-correlated anthropometric measurements included columellar angle, nostril width ratio, and lateral lip height ratio (0.72, 0.80, 0.79). Almost all shape-based measurements had tight correlation with the severity standard, however, dorsum deviation and point difference nasolabial symmetry were the most predictive (0.84, 0.82). Quantitative measures of severity transcend cleft type and can be used to grade clinical severity. Lateral deviation of subnasale was the best measure of severity and may be used as a surrogate of uncoupled premaxillary growth; it should be recorded as an index of pre-operative severity with every cleft lip repair. The correlation of other measures evaluated clarify treatment priorities and could potentially be used to grade outcomes.

Growth-related nasal stability following unilateral complete cleft lip repair: A comparison of the standard and modified rotation-advancement technique

Growth-related nasal stability following unilateral complete cleft lip repair: A comparison of the standard and modified rotation-advancement technique

Lessons Learned from a Single Institution's Eight Years of Experience with Early Cleft Lip Repair.

Background and Objectives: The traditional approach in managing wide cleft lip deformities involves presurgical nasoalveolar molding (NAM) therapy followed by surgical cleft lip repair between three and six months of age. This institution has implemented an early cleft lip repair (ECLR) protocol where infants undergo primary cleft lip repair between two and five weeks of age without NAM. This study aims to present this institution's ECLR repair protocol over the past eight years from 188 consecutive patients with unilateral or bilateral CL/P deformity. Materials and Methods: Retrospective review was conducted at Children's Hospital Los Angeles evaluating patients who underwent ECLR before three months of age and were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class I or II from 2015-2022. Anthropometric analysis was performed, and pre- and postoperative photographs were evaluated to assess nasal and lip symmetry. Results: The average age at cleft lip repair after correcting for gestational age was 1.0 ± 0.5 months. Mean operative and anesthetic times were 120.3 ± 33.0 min and 189.4 ± 35.4, respectively. Only 2.1% (4/188) of patients had postoperative complications. Lip revision rates were 11.4% (20/175) and 15.4% (2/13) for unilateral and bilateral repairs, respectively, most of which were minor in severity (16/22, 72.7%). Postoperative anthropometric measurements demonstrated significant improvements in nasal and lip symmetry (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This analysis demonstrates the safety and efficacy of ECLR in correcting all unilateral cleft lip and nasal deformities of patients who were ASA classes I or II. At this institution, ECLR has minimized the need for NAM, which is now reserved for patients with bilateral cleft lip, late presentation, or comorbidities that preclude them from early repair. ECLR serves as a valuable option for patients with a wide range of cleft severity while reducing the burden of care.

Outcomes of Fisher Technique for Unilateral Incomplete Cleft Lip Repair

Background:-&#x0D; Cleft lip repair is imperative for a child’s physical and mental well-being. Fisher’s innovative technique adds versatility to conventional methods with optimal aesthetic results. An inconspicuous scar along the anatomical subunits is a hallmark of this procedure. &#x0D; Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of Fisher technique for unilateral incomplete cleft lip.&#x0D; Methods:-&#x0D; This Quasi experimental study was conducted at the Plastic Surgery Department, Mayo Hospital Lahore from 2017 to 2021. 50 consecutive patients with primary unilateral incomplete cleft lip were included in the study. Qualitative analysis was performed using Steffensen Grading Criteria 9. Improvement in pre-operative and post-operative anthropometric ratios was also analyzed. Symmetry of repaired cleft to normal cleft side was also assessed 9,12 .&#x0D; Results:-&#x0D; Mean age of patients was 4.14±0.72 months. Parent’s satisfaction score on the Likert scale was 4.84±0.37 (Mean ±SD). Significant improvement in anthropometric parameters (vertical lip height, vermilion height, nostril width and nostril height) except lip width was recorded. Significant symmetry was achieved for all parameters (p-value less than 0.05) except nasal height ratio (p- value=0.071). Good results were also achieved on all parameters according to Steffensen criteria.&#x0D; Conclusion:-&#x0D; Fisher anatomical subunit repair is a reliable option for unilateral incomplete cleft lip repair producing aesthetically pleasing results.&#x0D;

Remote Real-Time Training for Sustainable Cleft Operation in Rural Region of West Africa: Effective Webinar in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The surgical requirement for cleft lip and palate repair remains unmet in many developing areas of the world, including remote regions of Ghana. This article reviews the utilization of Internet education and online consultation for cleft lip and palate surgical training in Sunyani Regional Hospital (SRH), Ghana. The cleft lip and palate treatment was promoted to patients in remote areas of Sunyani, Ghana region, through a charitable outreach program. These basic designs and settings were managed by local participants such as doctors, residents, nurses, and staff in SRH, Ghana. From November 2014 to December 2020, the authors collaborated in surgical treatment for 84 cases that were diagnosed with unilateral cleft lip, bilateral cleft lip, hard and soft palate cleft, and microstomia. The type of surgery has varied and has included cheiloplasty, palatoplasty, and others. The average scores of esthetic outcome evaluation were nasal form=2.4, symmetry of the nose=2.9, and vermillion border=2.9. Through the program, the surgeons and residents became significantly more proficient at cleft lip and palate surgery. The seminar topics have covered essential and sustainable topics based on SRH's current needs and showed the effectiveness in the current coronavirus disease-19 pandemic situation. The shortage of orofacial cleft surgeons working in rural areas like Sunyani, Ghana, remains an obstacle that poses a challenge to any effort to improve health care quality in these rural communities. Sustainable remote education is essential for the training of local cleft surgeons to fill this local need; our collaborative and charitable program could be a recommended education design for cleft surgeons and institutes for their sustainable education.

Factors Influencing Parental Satisfaction in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate Repair Based on Comprehensive Plastic Surgery Procedures at the Senyum Bali Foundation.

Analyze contributing factors toward satisfaction after cleft lip and palate treatments in Senyum Bali Foundation. Qualitative case study, an interview with a semi-structured question from February to April 2023 by purposive sampling informants including parents, foundation staff, and plastic surgeon. Unsatisfying nose and teeth appearance due imperfect effects after surgery and requirement of more procedures. Mini model theory study that includes the appearance of the face and lips; speech and hearing; the functions of feeding, masticatory, breathing; psychosocial, quality of life, treatment cost-effectiveness, funding, health services, physician, implementing cultural contexts, surgical outcomes, and parents' feedback.

High-Fidelity Cleft Simulation Maintains Improvements in Performance and Confidence: A Prospective Study

High-fidelity simulation has a growing role in plastic surgical education. This study tests the hypothesis that cleft lip repair simulation followed by structured debriefing improves performance and self-confidence and that gains are maintained. Prospective, single-blinded interventional study with repeated measures. Trainees performed cleft lip repair on a high-fidelity simulator followed by debriefing, immediately completed a second repair, and returned 3 months later for a third session. Anonymized simulation videos were rated using the modified Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) and the Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair competency assessment tool (UCLR). Self-assessed cleft lip knowledge/confidence and procedural self-confidence were surveyed after each simulation. Boston Children's Hospital, a tertiary care academic hospital in Boston, MA, USA. All trainees rotating through the study setting were eligible. Twenty-six participated; 21 returned for follow-up. Significant improvements (p < 0.05) occurred between the first and second simulations for OSATS, UCLR, and procedural self-confidence. Significant improvement occurred between the second and third simulations cleft lip knowledge/confidence. Compared to the first simulation, improvements were maintained at the third simulation for all variables. Training level moderately correlated with score for UCLR for the first simulation (r = 0.55, p < 0.01), deteriorated somewhat with the second (r = 0.35, p = 0.08), and no longer corelated by the third (r = 0.02, p = 0.92). Objective performance and subjective self-assessed knowledge and confidence improve with high-fidelity simulation plus structured debriefing and improvement is maintained. Differences in procedure-specific performance seen with increasing training level are reduced with simulation, suggesting it may accelerate knowledge and skill acquisition.

Orthodontic treatment in multidisciplinary sequential treatment of patients with cleft lip and palate

Cleft lip and palate is the most common congenital maxillofacial defect. The modern treatment of cleft lip and palate is a sequential treatment with multidisciplinary collaboration, which can restore the maxillofacial morphology and function, and rebuild the psychosocial adaptation of the patients. Orthodontic treatment is almost throughout whole process of the sequential treatment. Due to the professional attention to maxillofacial growth and development, orthodontists have become one of the most crucial members during the multidisciplinary treatment of cleft lip and palate. Orthodontists are required in the different stages of maxillofacial growth and development to provide suggestions and necessary treatment. By orthodontic treatment, it can not only solve the problem of malocclusion and promote the maxillofacial growth and development, but also create a favourable condition for other therapies of sequential treatment, such as cleft lip and palate repair, bone grafting, prosthodontics, and even mental health. In order to improve the therapeutic effect of comprehensive treatment and to alleviate the burden of patients, orthodontists should learn more about the treatment of cleft lip and palate. This article mainly introduced the craniofacial deformities of cleft lip and palate and the progress of orthodontic treatment in the multidisciplinary treatment of cleft patients.

Patient Safety and Suitability for Primary Cleft Lip Repair as Day Case Surgery - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine if day case cleft lip surgery has an impact on complications and 30-day readmission rate. A systematic review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. Databases included; PubMed, Science Direct, Ovid and Cochrane. Search terms; "Day Case", "Day Care", "outpatient", "Ambulatory" AND "Cleft", "Cleft Lip". Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5. Eligible study types included; randomised controlled trials, observational studies (prospective and retrospective) and case series. Paediatric patients undergoing primary cleft lip repair. Day case surgery versus inpatient admission post-operative. Primary outcome measure: Primary cleft lip repair performed as a day case in paediatric patients. Secondary outcome measures: 1. Complication rates and 30-day re-admission to hospital rate. 2. Patient suitability for day case surgery. Ten papers with 13 804 patients undergoing primary cleft lip repair were included, 28% were discharged on the day of surgery (Range 17%-81%). There was no significant difference in complication rate between the inpatient and day case cohorts. There was a significant reduction in 30-day readmission rates in the day case cohort. This meta-analysis indicates there is no difference in complication rates for patients discharged on the day of surgery compared to those admitted overnight. Complications encountered were infrequent, non-life threatening and often occurred more than 24 h following discharge. There was an observed reduction in 30-day readmission rates for day-case patients. This is likely to represent a variation in baseline characteristics which deemed them suitable for day case surgery pre-operatively.

Opioid-free Pain Management after Cleft Lip Repair.

Side effects of opioid pain management after surgical repair of cleft lips are numerous and affect postoperative course. We compared opioid versus opioid-free pain management regimens for infants who underwent cleft lip repair to evaluate the impact on postoperative recovery. Cleft lip repairs at our institution from December 2016 to February 2021 were retrospectively reviewed, comparing patients who received opioids to patients receiving a nonopioid pain control regimen. Data collected include length of stay, oral morphine equivalents (OME) received on day of surgery (DOS)/postoperative day (POD) 1, time to and volume of first oral feed, and Face/Legs/Activity/Cry/Consolability (FLACC) scores. Seventy-three infants were included (47 opioid and 26 nonopioid). The opioid group received average 1.75 mg OME on DOS and 1.04 mg OME on POD1. Average DOS FLACC scores were similar between groups [1.57 ± 1.18 nonopioid versus 1.76 ± 0.94 (SD) opioid; P = 0.46]. Average POD1 FLACC scores were significantly lower for the nonopioid group (0.73 ± 1.05 versus 1.35 ± 1.06; P = 0.022). Median time to first PO (min) was similar [178 (interquartile range [IQR] 66-411) opioid versus 147 (IQR 93-351) nonopioid; P = 0.65]. Median volume of first feed (mL) was twice as high for the nonopioid group [90 (IQR 58-120) versus 45 (IQR 30-60); P = 0.003]. Nonopioid postoperative pain management was more effective than opioids for pain management in infants after cleft lip repair, as evidenced by FLACC scores and increased volume of the first oral feed.

A Comparison of Revision Rates in Patients Undergoing Traditional Versus Neonatal Cleft Lip Repair

A Comparison of Revision Rates in Patients Undergoing Traditional Versus Neonatal Cleft Lip Repair

Speech and Burden of Secondary Surgical Interventions Following One-Stage Repair of Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate and Alveolar Bone Grafting Performed at Different Timings.

A comprehensive assessment of the treatment outcome in cleft lip and palate involves evaluating speech and the impact of speech-correcting surgical interventions. This retrospective case-control study compared the speech outcomes of 37 boys and 19 girls with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) who underwent one-stage cleft repair at an average age of 8.1 months and alveolar bone grafting either before or after 6 years of age, with a non-cleft control group at an average age of 10 years. Two experienced speech and language pathologists conducted perceptual speech assessments using a specialized test of 27 sentences designed for Polish-speaking cleft patients. The results revealed that 5.3% had severe hypernasality, 1.8% had severely impaired speech intelligibility, 10.7% exhibited retracted compensatory articulations, and 7.1% displayed facial grimacing. Mild hyponasality was observed in 12.3% of patients, while 16.1% exhibited voice abnormalities. Additionally, 12.5% of patients required orofacial fistula repairs, 3.6% underwent pharyngoplasties, and 28.6% received ear ventilation tube insertions. The study indicates that speech abnormalities in UCLP patients were relatively infrequent and not highly severe, suggesting that the primary UCLP repair method presented effectively reduced the need for further surgical interventions, leading to positive speech outcomes.