The influence of sidedness in unilateral cleft lip and palate on mid facial growth at 5 years of age

Objective: To determine whether facial growth at five years is different for children with a right versus left sided cleft lip and palate. Design: Retrospective cohort study Setting: Nine UK cleft centres Patients: Patients born between 2000-2014 with a complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) Main outcomes measure: 5-Year-Olds Index scores Results: 378 children were included. 122 (32%) had a right sided UCLP and 256 (68%) had a left sided UCLP. 5-Year-Olds index scores ranged from 1 (good) to 5 (poor). There was a higher proportion of patients getting good scores (1 and 2) in left UCLP (43%) compared to right UCLP (37%) but there was weak evidence for a difference (Adjusted summary odds ratio 1.27, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.87; P=0.22). Conclusions: Whilst maxillary growth may be different for left versus right sided UCLP, definitive analysis requires older growth indices and arch forms.