Pattern and clinical profile of patients with cleft lip and palate at pediatrics surgical hospital in Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Cleft lip and palate are among the most common congenital anomalies of the head and neck region. Oral-facial clefts can  be observed on the lips, jaw bones, and hard and soft palates. This study aimed to assess the Pattern, clinical of children with cleft lip  and/or palate who visit CURE Children’s Hospital Ethiopia.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients who were operated from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2022, at the  Cure Children’s Hospital in Ethiopia. The Demographic and clinical data of cleft patients were collected using Smile Train Express (STX). The collected data underwent analysis using descriptive statistics with SPSS version 26.

Results: The study included 1379 surgeries done on patients with non-syndromic cleft palate or lip. The average age at surgery was 21  months, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.78:1. The left side was the most affected, and it was unilateral. The commonest surgery done  was primary unilateral lip-nose repair, with 694 (50.3%). The most common surgical technique used is Millard rotation advancement 823  (59.7%). Regarding post-operative complications, palatal fistula surgeries done for 73 (8.3%) patients and lip and nose revisions done for  38(2.75%).

Conclusion: The study reveals the common form of presentation was a left-sided, unilateral cleft lip, which is treated with  unilateral lip-nose repair. The high magnitude of the palatal fistula is also reported, with the most common millard rotation advancement  surgical treatment in the study area. Therefore, policymakers and health planners should strengthen early treatment of congenital anomalies in children and create awareness about the availability of treatment to prevent long-term deformities related to  cleft lip and palate.