Abstract
Effects of the palate correction on cleft palate patients were examined by checking middle ear effusion of the two groups of pre- and post-operative patients. The results are as follows.
(1) In the pre-operative group (0-2 years of age), 33% of ears contained middle ear effusion.
(2) In the post-operative group (3-28 years of age), 7% of ears contained middle ear effusion.
(3) Bacteriological examination revealed microorganisms in 60% of the effusions.
These findings suggest that bacterial infection is a important factor of middle ear disease in cleft palate patients.
