The use of an independent panel to assess the long term results of cleft lip repair.

The importance of an accepted method of assessment of the long term results of unilateral cleft lip repair is recognised. A series of 20 children was assessed by two separate panels of judges, using standardised clinical follow up photographs, and their results compared. One of the panels made a second assessment of the 20 children. The method was tested statistically for intra- and inter-observer reliability and was found to be reproducible. Such a method may have a place in comparing the long term results of different surgical techniques of cleft lip repair.