Use of standardized video recordings to assess cleft surgery outcome.

A standardized method of video recording the nasolabial area of children with complete unilateral clefts of the lip and nose is described. Assessment of the outcome of cleft surgery using a scoring system to evaluate the video recordings was carried out by a panel of plastic surgeons familiar with the problems of secondary deformity in cleft patients. Nine features of the appearance and function of the lip and 10 features of the nose appearance were assessed in 30 children, aged 11 to 14 years, from two cleft treatment centers. The reliability of the panel ranged from poor to excellent for different features of the lip and nose. With further development this technique may be useful in quality assurance, intercenter comparisons, or outcome studies of surgical techniques.