The TOPS clinical trial, conducted in Europe and South America, aimed to determine the optimal timing of primary surgery for infants with isolated cleft palate. The study compared outcomes between infants who underwent surgery at 6 months and those who had surgery at 12 months. The results showed that infants who had surgery at 6 months had a lower risk of velopharyngeal insufficiency later in childhood compared to those who had surgery at 12 months.
One of the significant findings of the TOPS trial was the difference in velopharyngeal function between the two groups. Infants who had surgery at 6 months had a lower rate of insufficient closure between their velum and pharyngeal walls compared to the 12-month surgery group. This finding suggests that earlier surgery may lead to better long-term outcomes for velopharyngeal function.
The TOPS trial also evaluated speech outcomes in both groups. The researchers found that approximately 30% of children still had symptoms of velopharyngeal insufficiency even after palatal surgery. However, there were no clear differences in speech outcomes between the two groups, except for a greater percentage of canonical babbling in the 6-month surgery group at age 1. This finding suggests that earlier surgery may have some benefits for early speech development.
The TOPS trial reported that postoperative complications were similar and few in both the 6-month and 12-month surgery groups. This indicates that the timing of surgery did not significantly impact the occurrence of complications. However, it is important to note that the trial did not standardize the timing of secondary surgery, which may have influenced the primary outcome response.
While the TOPS trial provides valuable insights into the optimal timing of cleft palate surgery, there are several limitations to consider. The trial design was not fully standardized, and additional surgeries to treat velopharyngeal insufficiency were more common in the 6-month surgery group. This raises questions about whether the better primary outcome response was solely due to the timing of primary surgery or the increased occurrence of secondary surgery. Moreover, the trial was susceptible to treatment biases due to the lack of standardization in the timing of secondary surgery.
The researchers randomized 281 infants to the 6-month surgery group and 277 infants to the 12-month surgery group. All participants had isolated cleft palate and were medically fit for surgery at 6 months. Infants with severe developmental delay or other conditions that could affect surgical outcomes were excluded from the trial. The participating infants were from specialized centers in Europe and South America, ensuring expertise in cleft lip and palate repairs.
Velopharyngeal insufficiency was assessed using a composite score based on three components: hypernasality, non-oral errors, and symptoms of velopharyngeal insufficiency. Speech and language therapists evaluated these components through single-word recordings. However, it is essential to acknowledge that speech evaluations at age 5 did not consider additional interventions such as speech therapy or secondary surgery for velopharyngeal insufficiency. This limitation might have influenced the overall assessment of speech outcomes.
The TOPS clinical trial provides valuable insights into the optimal timing of cleft palate surgery. The study suggests that infants who undergo surgery at 6 months may have better velopharyngeal function later in childhood compared to those who have surgery at 12 months. However, it is important to interpret these findings in the context of the trial’s limitations, including potential treatment biases and variations in surgical technique. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of timing on speech outcomes and to standardize the timing of secondary surgeries. Overall, the TOPS trial contributes to the ongoing effort to improve the surgical management of cleft palate in infants.