title: Effect of Relaxing Incisions on the Maxillary Growth after Primary Unilateral Cleft Palate Repair in Mild and Moderate Cases: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the use of relaxing incisions and maxillary growth disturbance after primary palatoplasty in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled trial study with ethical committee approval between 2 groups of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate who were operated on using the two-flap and one-flap techniques from 2008 to 2011. Two groups of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate were operated on using the mentioned techniques by the Outreach Surgical Center Program Lima since 2008. Data collection was accomplished by evaluation of maxillary arch dimensions and dental arch relationships (scored using the 5-year-olds' index).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean score for the 5-year-olds' index was 2.57 for two-flap technique and 2.80 for one-flap technique without statistical significant differences (P= 0.71). Our comparative study did not find statistically significant differences in maxillary arch dimensions between the studied techniques for unilateral cleft palate repair. Good levels of agreement were observed according to theκstatistics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results arising from this clinical trial do not provide statistical evidence that one technique let us obtain better maxillary development than the other at 5 years. The use of relaxing incisions was not associated with maxillary growth impairment. A technique with limited relaxing incisions does not has better maxillary growth. Additional longer term study is necessary to confirm this preliminary report.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, San Martin de Porres University, Lima, Peru; Outreach Surgical Center Lima Perú, ReSurge International USA; ARMONIZAR Foundation, Lima, Peru; and Mission Caritas Felices, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Percy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossell-Perry
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, San Martin de Porres University, Lima, Peru; Outreach Surgical Center Lima Perú, ReSurge International USA; ARMONIZAR Foundation, Lima, Peru; and Mission Caritas Felices, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cotrina-Rabanal
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, San Martin de Porres University, Lima, Peru; Outreach Surgical Center Lima Perú, ReSurge International USA; ARMONIZAR Foundation, Lima, Peru; and Mission Caritas Felices, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Figallo-Hudtwalcker
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, San Martin de Porres University, Lima, Peru; Outreach Surgical Center Lima Perú, ReSurge International USA; ARMONIZAR Foundation, Lima, Peru; and Mission Caritas Felices, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Vereau