RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To quantify negative aesthetic ratings in primary unrepaired cleft lip infants by further refining our previously reported paired comparison method. DESIGN: The Thurstone paired comparison method was used to quantify negative aesthetic ratings of plaster facial models selected and ordered according to a table of paired random numbers. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: A total of 30 facial models of unrepaired incomplete unilateral cleft lip infants were used in this study. Raters comprised 20 oral surgeons and anesthesiologists. RESULTS: Quantification of aesthetic ratings for the 30 face models of unrepaired incomplete unilateral cleft lip infants was obtained. The ratings ranged from 0 to 5.08. CONCLUSION: Quantification of the aesthetic ratings for the 30 face models will be used as objective variables in a multivariate analysis in the third stage of this ongoing study.