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.Purpose. is study examines whether the use of elbow restraints aer cle lip/palate repair has a relationship to postoperative complications. Methods. A comparative descriptive design was used to study a convenience sample of children undergoing repair of cle lip/palate at Akron Children's Hospital with Institutional Review Board approval. e children were randomized into intervention or control groups with use of elbow restraints considered the intervention. e study consists of two arms; one examined children aer cle lip repair, the second examined children aer cle palate repair. Repairs were performed by a single surgeon. Data collected included age, comorbidities, patient discomfort measured by pain score, frequency and duration of pain medications, use of paci�er or �nger/thumb sucking, and postoperative complications including disruption of the suture line. Results. With 47 post palate repair patients and 47 post cle repair patients, there is no signi�cant difference � > 0.05) in the occurrence of postoperative complications. Conclusions. Study results provide prospective evidence to support postoperative observation of children by surgery staff and family following cle lip or cle palate repair without the use of elbow restraints. Clinicians should reevaluate the use of elbow restraints aer cle lip/palate repair based on the belief restraints prevent postoperative complications.