Surgical sequence, timing and volume, and variation in dento-facial outcome, speech and secondary surgery in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate: The Cleft Care UK Study.

This study found associations between surgical variables and speech outcomes at 5 years of age, but not between surgical variables and dento-facial outcome, nor between surgical variables and secondary speech surgery. High surgical volume should be maintained, and any changes towards later surgery monitored for changes in speech outcome.