CLEFT LIP AND PALATE

PREVALENCE, PATIENTS PRESENTING TO A SURGICAL WARD AT ALLIED HOSPITAL FAISALABAD, IN ONE YEAR

Abstract

A prospective study was conducted to look for prevalence of cleft lip and palate in
a population presenting to a surgical unit in a teaching hospital. Objectives: To see prevalence
of cleft lip and palate alone, lip and palate combined, right or left sided, male to female
distribution, and possible factors responsible for clefting. Study Design: A prospective study.
Setting: Surgical Unit II at Allied Hospital Faisalabad. Period: March 2009 to March 2010 for
one year. Materials and Methods: Total 55 patients were treated in year 2009 out of total
17900 (0.3 %) patients admitted in all surgical wards and 6508 patients admitted in surgical
unit II (0.8%). Patients were divided into three groups, cleft lip alone (group A), cleft palate
alone (group B) and combined cleft lip and palate (group C). Children up to the age of 5 years
with congenital abnormality were included in study. Results: Out of 6508 patients admitted in
surgical unit II 55 patients (0.8%) had cleft lip and palate defect. 55 patients were divided in
three groups. In group A, 32 patients presented with cleft lip alone ( 58.1 % ), 16 ( 29 % ) were
males and 16 ( 29 % ) were females, 21 patients have left sided ( 38 % ), 4 right sided (7.27% )
and 7 patients have bilateral ( 12.72 % ) defects. 2 patients (3.63 %) had family history of cleft lip
and both were males. In group B, 12 patients ( 21.8 %) had cleft palate alone, 7 patients ( 12.72
% ) were males and 5 patients ( 9 % ) were females, 10 patients ( 1.18 % ) had soft palate only
while 2 patients ( 3.63 % ) had compete ( hard and soft ) palatal defect. In group C, 11 patients,
had cleft lip and palate combined ( 20 % ), 6 patients were males ( 10.9 % ) and 5 patients ( 9
% ) were females, 8 patients ( 14.54 % ) had only soft palate defect while 3 patients ( 5.45 % )
had complete palatal defect associated with 8 patients ( 14.54 % ) left sided unilateral lip defect
and 3 patients ( 5.45% ) had bilateral cleft lip. All patients were operated without any mortality.
Ages of mothers at earliest were 16 and 18 years, 3 cousin marriages, ( 5.45 % ) all fathers were
smokers, belonged to poor socio economic families and no history of mother’s exposure to
radiation, drug abuse during gestational life. Conclusion: As it is obvious from this study that
all patients belongs to poor socio economics group, and all fathers were smokers, 3 patients
born in parents who had cousin marriages ( 5.45 % ) 2 patients ( 3.63 % ) with family history,
cleft lip and palate are multifactorial congenital abnormalities, runs in families and is influenced
by various environmental factors.