Statewide multicenter analysis of the incidence of secondary surgeries after isolated cleft palate repair.

Introduction: Previous smaller studies have reported a wide range, 15% to 45%, of secondary palate surgery. The goal of this study was to report the true incidence of secondary surgery derived from a large statewide database as well as study the timing and risk factors for secondary surgery.

Methods: Retrospective longitudinal analysis was performed of the 1995 to 2010 California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development patient discharge database, which allows patients to be followed up over time.