Multivariate analysis on unilateral cleft lip and palate treatment outcome by EUROCRAN index: A retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
This study is to evaluate the dental arch relationship and palatal morphology of unilateral cleft lip and palate patients by using EUROCRAN index, and to assess the factors that affect them using multivariate statistical analysis.


METHODS
A total of one hundred and seven patients from age five to twelve years old with non-syndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate were included in the study. These patients have received cheiloplasty and one stage palatoplasty surgery but yet to receive alveolar bone grafting procedure. Five assessors trained in the use of the EUROCRAN index underwent calibration exercise and ranked the dental arch relationships and palatal morphology of the patients' study models. For intra-rater agreement, the examiners scored the models twice, with two weeks interval in between sessions. Variable factors of the patients were collected and they included gender, site, type and, family history of unilateral cleft lip and palate; absence of lateral incisor on cleft side, cheiloplasty and palatoplasty technique used. Associations between various factors and dental arch relationships were assessed using logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
Dental arch relationship among unilateral cleft lip and palate in local population had relatively worse scoring than other parts of the world. Crude logistics regression analysis did not demonstrate any significant associations among the various socio-demographic factors, cheiloplasty and palatoplasty techniques used with the dental arch relationship outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has limitations that might have affected the results, example: having multiple operators performing the surgeries and the inability to access the influence of underlying genetic predisposed cranio-facial variability. These may have substantial influence on the treatment outcome. The factors that can affect unilateral cleft lip and palate treatment outcome is multifactorial in nature and remained controversial in general.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia. Electronic address: yewchingching@yahoo.com.
Ching Ching
CC
Yew
Orthodontic Unit, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Mohammad Khursheed
MK
Alam
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Shaifulizan Abdul
SA
Rahman
D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D003724:Dental Arch; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Dental arch relationship; EUROCRAN; Treatment outcome; Unilateral cleft lip and palate