Does deprivation have an effect on the surgical outcome of alveolar bone grafts in patients with cleft lip and palate?

Aim: To determine whether social and material deprivation has an effect on the radiographic outcome of alveolar bone grafting (ABG).

Method: The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and rankings were determined using postcodes for 331 consecutive patients who underwent ABGs during the period 2004 – 2013. These were compared to prospective Kindelan scores of the ABG procedure from radiographs at a 6-month review.

Results: Data for 302 of the 331 consecutive patients were entered into the study (91.2%). IMD rankings distributed into Quintile 1 (13.6%), 2(18.9%), 3(23.5%), 4(20.9%), and 5(23.2%). Two hundred and seventy six of the 302 (91.4%) procedures were assessed to be a success (Kindelan score 1 or 2). Logistic regression analysis showed no statistical evidence between the success of the patients’ bone grafting procedure and IMD score (p = 0.571) or deprivation national ranking (p = 0.351).

Conclusion: This study does not demonstrate any clear relationship between deprivation scores and the radiographic success of bone grafting procedures in the South West of England.