The influence of age at operation for clefts on the development of the jaws

Summary In this follow-up study of adult cleft patients with a unilateral cheilognathopalatoschisis, the effect on maxillo-mandibular development of the age at which the palatoplasty had been performed was investigated. It was concluded that it makes little difference whether the hard palate is closed at the age of 3 or 6 years.