Background: The optimal age for cleft palate repair continues to be debated, with little discussion of surgical risk related to operative timing. This study of 3088 cleft palate patients analyzed the impact of surgical timing on perioperative and 30-day postoperative outcomes.
Methods: Primary cleft palate repairs were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2012 to 2015. Data were combed for total postoperative complications, rates of readmission and reoperation, operating room time, and length of stay. Bivariate analyses were performed comparing 3-month periods from months 6 to 18, and months 0 to 5, 18 to 23, 24 to 29, and 30 to 59.
Results: Despite a higher proportion of isolated soft palate closure, children operated on before 6 months had a higher complication rate than children at other ages (7.1 percent versus 3.2 percent; OR, 2.4; p = 0.04), and higher rates of both readmission (3.6 percent versus 1.4 percent; OR, 3.6; p = 0.02) and reoperation (2.4 percent versus 0.5 percent; OR, 4.7; p = 0.04). There were no differences in short-term outcomes for any other age group younger than 5 years, and no differences in hospital length of stay among any age groups.
Conclusions: The authors' findings suggest a relative contraindication to operation before 6 months. As there were no differences between any other age groups, long-term speech optimization should continue to be the primary consideration for operative planning. These findings improve the current rationale for palatoplasty timing, and can aid surgeons and parents in the surgical decision-making process.
Clinical question/level of evidence: Therapeutic, III.
Copyright © 2020 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.