Long-term Outcomes of a Modified Straight-line Palate Repair Technique: Low Speech Correcting Surgery and Fistula Rates.

Background: The goal of cleft palate (CP) repair is to restore normal speech, however, rates of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) after palatoplasty remain high. We present a modified straight-line palate repair (SLR) technique that facilitates velum length to alleviate VPI. The technique releases nasal mucosa with the levator muscle off the hard palate.

Premaxillary Setback in the Management of Patients With Bilateral Cleft Lip: A 2 Decade Review.

Objective: This study analyzes indications and outcomes of premaxillary setback (PS) and presents an algorithm for its use in patients with bilateral cleft lip and/or palate (BCL ± P).

Design: Retrospective review.

Setting: Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Comparing Three-dimensional Radiologic Outcomes Between Early Versus Late Secondary Alveolar Bone Grafting.

Secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) during mixed dentition is the standard of care for patients with complete cleft of lip and palate. Early SABG (E-SABG; 4 to 7 y) occurs before the eruption of lateral incisors, whereas late SABG (L-SABG; 8 to 12 y) occurs before the eruption of maxillary permanent canines. This study compares outcomes of E-SABG versus L-SABG among patients with unilateral cleft of lip and palate (UCLP).

Orthognathic Surgery Rates in Furlow Double-Opposing Z-Plasty Versus Straight-Line Repair: A Review of Three Decades of Experience.

Objective: The influence of different surgical techniques on maxillary growth remains unclear. This study investigates the long-term impact of Furlow double-opposing Z-plasty versus straight-line repair (SLR) techniques on midface growth and subsequent orthognathic surgery.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Polysomnogram Findings and Psychosocial and Academic Concerns in Children With Cleft Palate With or Without Cleft Lip.

Children born with a cleft palate with or without a cleft lip (CP±L) are at risk for sleep-disordered breathing, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While OSA and CP±L have both been associated with higher risk for psychosocial and academic concerns, their combined risk has been understudied. This paper aimed to describe polysomnography findings and psychosocial and academic concerns among children with isolated (iCP±L) and syndrome-associated (sCP±L) clefts who had undergone primary palatoplasty.

A National Analysis of Craniosynostosis Demographic and Surgical Trends Over a 10-Year Period.

The pathogenesis of craniosynostosis, characterized by the premature fusion of calvarial sutures, is multifaceted and often the result of an amalgamation of contributing factors. The current study seeks examine the possible contributors to craniosynostosis development and its surgical trends over time. A multicenter/national retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients who underwent surgical repair of craniosynostosis (n=11,279) between 2012 and 2021 identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric Data File.

Inpatient versus Outpatient Alveolar Bone Grafting: A Nationwide Cost Analysis.

Objective: To compare postoperative outcomes and costs between inpatient and outpatient ABG in the United States.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Multi-institutional/national.

A Review of Socioeconomic Disparities in Submucous Cleft Diagnosis and Outcomes.

Submucous cleft palate (SMCP) is a common congenital anomaly characterized by a diastasis of the levator veli palitini muscle. The subtlety of SMCP on physical examination can contribute to diagnostic delays. This study aims to analyze the factors contributing to delays in care and subsequent postoperative outcomes in patients with SMCP.

Failure Rates Based on Alveolar Cleft Volume: An Analysis of the Critical-Sized Defect for Alveolar Bone Grafting.

Background: Alveolar bone grafting (ABG) using iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) is best practice for children with complete cleft lip and palate. With the advent of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP-2) and demineralized bone matrix (DBM), excellent results can still be achieved while avoiding donor-site morbidity. This study aims to determine the critical-sized defects by analyzing graft failure rates for ICBG and rhBMP-2/DBM to guide surgeons performing ABG.

A Single Institution 19 Year Comparison of Furlow and Straight Line Palatoplasty Techniques in Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate.

Objective: This study aims to compare patients' speech correcting surgery and fistula rates between the Furlow and Straight Line (SLR) palatoplasty techniques when combined with greater palatine flaps for complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) repair.

Design: This was a single-center IRB approved retrospective cohort study.

Setting: This study took place at an urban tertiary academic center.

Comparing Outcomes of Traditional Lip Repair Versus Early Cleft Lip Repair on a National Scale.

Background: Cleft lip (CL) is one of the most common congenital anomalies and has traditionally been repaired surgically when the patient is between 3 and 6 months of age. However, recent single-institutional studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of early CL repairs (ECLRs) during the neonatal period. This study seeks to evaluate the outcomes of ECLR (repair <1 month) versus traditional lip repair (TLR) by comparing outcomes on a national scale.

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

: 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.

Safety and Sustainability: Optimizing Outcomes and Changing Paradigms in Global Health Endeavors.

Background: The need to address inequities in global surgical care has garnered increased attention since 2015, after the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery underscored the importance of ensuring safe, accessible, affordable, and timely surgical and anesthetic care. The vast unmet global plastic surgery needs make plastic surgery care essential in reducing the global burden of disease. In the past, many nonprofit organizations undertook humanitarian activities within low- and middle-income countries that were primarily service-provision oriented.

Systematic Review of Postoperative Velopharyngeal Insufficiency: Incidence and Association With Palatoplasty Timing and Technique.

Cleft palate is among the most common congenital disorders worldwide and is correctable through surgical intervention. Sub-optimal surgical results may cause velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). When symptomatic, VPI can cause hypernasal or unintelligible speech.

The influence of an all-female healthcare environment on mentorship and empowerment of female healthcare professionals.

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have the greatest need for additional healthcare providers, and women outside the workforce help address the need. Women in healthcare need more mentorship and leadership training to advance their careers due to systemic barriers. This study evaluates how women working together on a medical team influences mentorship, leadership and empowerment.

The effect of short-term preoperative nutritional intervention for cleft surgery eligibility.

Background: Children with orofacial clefts are highly susceptible to malnutrition, with severe malnutrition restricting their eligibility to receive safe surgery. Ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) are an effective treatment for malnutrition; however, the effectiveness has not been demonstrated in this patient population prior to surgery. We studied the effectiveness of short-term RUTF use in transitioning children with malnutrition, who were initially ineligible for surgery, into surgical candidates.

The Personal Impact of Involvement in International Global Health Outreach: A National Survey of Former Operation Smile Student Volunteers.

Background: Humanitarian surgical organizations such as Operation Smile provide global health opportunities for students and medical trainees. Prior studies have shown a positive benefit for medical trainees. This study aimed to determine if the international global health experiences of young student volunteers impact their career choices as adults.

Premaxillary Setback in Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Repair.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate surgical outcomes and maxillofacial growth in patients undergoing primary lip repair with or without premaxillary setback.

Design: Retrospective review.

Setting: Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, California.

Early Cleft Lip Repair: Demonstrating Efficacy in the First 100 Patients.

Background: Cleft lip and/or palate affects approximately one in 700 live births. Optimal timing for repair of cleft lip has yet to be objectively validated. Earlier repair takes advantage of a high degree of plasticity within the nasal cartilage and maxilla.

Sagittal Growth Restriction of the Midface Following Isolated Cleft Lip Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Midface hypoplasia (MFH) is a long-term sequela of cleft lip and palate repair, and is poorly understood. No study has examined the aggregate data on sagittal growth restriction of the midface following repair of the lip, but not palate, in these patients. A systematic review of 3780 articles was performed.

A plastic and reconstructive surgery landscape assessment of Malawi: a scoping review of Malawian literature.

Background: Plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) remains highly relevant to the unmet need for surgery in Malawi. Better understanding the current PRS landscape and its barriers may help address some of these challenges. This scoping review aimed to describe: (1) the scope and focus of the PRS literature being produced in Malawi and (2) the challenges, deficits, and barriers to providing accessible, high-quality PRS in Malawi.

Increased Distraction Magnitude Leads to Greater Reduction in the Apnea-Hypopnea Index in Infants With Robin Sequence.

Purpose: Upper airway obstruction seen in Robin Sequence (RS) is commonly treated with mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of distraction distance on sleep study outcomes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to RS.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted for patients with isolated RS who underwent MDO at Children's Hospital Los Angeles between January 2006-September 2021.

Cleft Palate Repair: A History of Techniques and Variations.

Orofacial clefting is a common reconstructive surgical condition that often involves the palate. Cleft palate repair has evolved over three centuries from merely achieving anatomical closure to prioritizing speech development and avoiding midface hypoplasia. Despite centuries of advancements, there is still substantial controversy and variable consensus on technique, timing, and sequence of cleft palate repair procedures.

High prevalence of deleterious mutations in concomitant nonsyndromic cleft and outflow tract heart defects.

Our previous work demonstrating enrichment of outflow tract (OFT) congenital heart disease (CHD) in children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) suggests derangements in common underlying developmental pathways. The current pilot study examines the underlying genetics of concomitant nonsyndromic CL/P and OFT CHD phenotype. Of 575 patients who underwent CL/P surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, seven with OFT CHD, negative chromosomal microarray analysis, and no recognizable syndromic association were recruited with their parents (as available).