Complications of Cleft Lip and Palate Surgeries

A cleft is an abnormal opening or fissure in an anatomical structure that is normally closed. Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) is a congenital condition that it is noted at birth. Cleft Lip and palate are frequently associated with other developmental abnormalities and majority of cases are presented as part of a syndrome. Syndromic clefts account for about 50% of the total cases and association with about 300 syndromes described. Clefts of the lip and palate are generally divided into two groups, isolated cleft palate and cleft lip with or without cleft palate, representing a heterogeneous group of disorders affecting the lips and oral cavity.Non-syndromic orofacial clefts, which include cleft lip, cleft lip and palate, and cleft palate alone, comprise a range of disorders affecting the lips and oral cavity, the causes of which remain largely unknown. These conditions result in a gap or split in the upper lip and/or the roof of the mouth (palate), which can lead to difficulties in feeding, speech, hearing, appearance and psychosocial development. Children with these disorders need multidisciplinary care from birth to adulthood.