The Swedish National Cleft Registry as a tool for long-term outcome evaluation : secondary alveolar bone grafting as an example
Larsson, Sofia LU ; Svensson, Henry LU ; Stiernman, Mia LU ; Wiedel, Anna Paulina LU and Becker, Magnus LU
(2026)
In Journal of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery
61.
p.161-168
- Abstract
National quality registries provide valuable opportunities for prospective, standardised follow-up of clinical outcomes over long periods. In cleft care, such long-term data remain limited internationally, particularly beyond childhood. The Swedish National Cleft Lip and Palate (CL/P) Registry, established in 1999 with predefined variables and standardised follow-ups, enables longitudinal evaluation of treatment outcomes across centres. The primary aim was to demonstrate the long-term usability of the Swedish National CL/P Registry for outcome assessment. As a clinical example, long-term outcomes after secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) from a single centre with complete historical registry coverage were analysed. National analyses... (More)
National quality registries provide valuable opportunities for prospective, standardised follow-up of clinical outcomes over long periods. In cleft care, such long-term data remain limited internationally, particularly beyond childhood. The Swedish National Cleft Lip and Palate (CL/P) Registry, established in 1999 with predefined variables and standardised follow-ups, enables longitudinal evaluation of treatment outcomes across centres. The primary aim was to demonstrate the long-term usability of the Swedish National CL/P Registry for outcome assessment. As a clinical example, long-term outcomes after secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) from a single centre with complete historical registry coverage were analysed. National analyses of SABG outcomes are currently constrained as the first complete nationwide cohorts became available in 2025. To enable a longer observation period, data from a centre with consistent documentation since the registry’s initiation were therefore examined. Since April 2006, 167 patients had documented SABG outcomes at a standardised 16-year follow-up. Outcomes were assessed using a nationally agreed bone height scoring system based on two-dimensional dental radiographs, where a bone height of ≥ 3/4 of the root length was considered successful. Successful grafting was observed in 84% of unilateral and 71% of bilateral clefts. Higher age at first SABG and the need for complementary grafting were associated with poorer outcomes. This study illustrates how a national quality registry with predefined variables and long-term follow-up can identify clinically relevant patterns and challenges. The presented SABG outcomes exemplify registry-based quality evaluation and provide a structured basis for continuous discussion, adjustment and improvement of cleft care.
(Less)
- author
- Larsson, Sofia
LU
; Svensson, Henry
LU
; Stiernman, Mia
LU
; Wiedel, Anna Paulina
LU
and Becker, Magnus
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- cleft lip and palate, long-term follow-up, national quality registry, secondary alveolar bone grafting
- in
- Journal of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery
- volume
- 61
- pages
- 8 pages
- publisher
- Medical Journals Sweden AB
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:42262114
- scopus:105042019349
- ISSN
- 2000-656X
- DOI
- 10.2340/jphs.v61.46192
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- d63d0b8d-e0ee-4342-8ca5-a77c272090f2
- date added to LUP
- 2026-09-04 14:44:06
- date last changed
- 2026-09-05 03:09:02
@article{d63d0b8d-e0ee-4342-8ca5-a77c272090f2,
abstract = {{<p>National quality registries provide valuable opportunities for prospective, standardised follow-up of clinical outcomes over long periods. In cleft care, such long-term data remain limited internationally, particularly beyond childhood. The Swedish National Cleft Lip and Palate (CL/P) Registry, established in 1999 with predefined variables and standardised follow-ups, enables longitudinal evaluation of treatment outcomes across centres. The primary aim was to demonstrate the long-term usability of the Swedish National CL/P Registry for outcome assessment. As a clinical example, long-term outcomes after secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) from a single centre with complete historical registry coverage were analysed. National analyses of SABG outcomes are currently constrained as the first complete nationwide cohorts became available in 2025. To enable a longer observation period, data from a centre with consistent documentation since the registry’s initiation were therefore examined. Since April 2006, 167 patients had documented SABG outcomes at a standardised 16-year follow-up. Outcomes were assessed using a nationally agreed bone height scoring system based on two-dimensional dental radiographs, where a bone height of ≥ 3/4 of the root length was considered successful. Successful grafting was observed in 84% of unilateral and 71% of bilateral clefts. Higher age at first SABG and the need for complementary grafting were associated with poorer outcomes. This study illustrates how a national quality registry with predefined variables and long-term follow-up can identify clinically relevant patterns and challenges. The presented SABG outcomes exemplify registry-based quality evaluation and provide a structured basis for continuous discussion, adjustment and improvement of cleft care.</p>}},
author = {{Larsson, Sofia and Svensson, Henry and Stiernman, Mia and Wiedel, Anna Paulina and Becker, Magnus}},
issn = {{2000-656X}},
keywords = {{cleft lip and palate; long-term follow-up; national quality registry; secondary alveolar bone grafting}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{161--168}},
publisher = {{Medical Journals Sweden AB}},
series = {{Journal of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery}},
title = {{The Swedish National Cleft Registry as a tool for long-term outcome evaluation : secondary alveolar bone grafting as an example}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/jphs.v61.46192}},
doi = {{10.2340/jphs.v61.46192}},
volume = {{61}},
year = {{2026}},
}