CLEFT LIP AND PALATE: A CASE SERIES ANALYSIS

Orofacial clefts (OFC) are common birth defects of complex aetiology resulting in disruptions of normal facial structure. They represent one of the most usual birth defects and occur in 1 per 500 to 2,500 births depending on ancestry, geographic residential location, maternal age and prenatal exposures, and socioeconomic status. Aim of this retrospective study is to assess the clinical outcome in a series of patients affected cleft lip and palate and discuss the pertinent literature. In the period between January 2001 and December 2010, 56 patients underwent to cleft lip and/or palate correction at the Pediatric Surgery Unit, S. Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy. Patients included 25 females and 23 males. There were 7 cleft lip, 24 cleft palate and 17 cleft lip and palate. All patients were surgically corrected under general anesthesia. Millard and Skoog techniques were used for cleft lip anomalies, whereas Langebeck, Vidmayer-Perko and Furlow techniques were used for cleft palate defects. In our series a multidisciplinary approach was used and several surgical techniques were performed. Functional and aesthetic results were satisfactory in most cases. The need of a specific dedicated team is mandatory for treating this group of patients.