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Paediatrics: Orofacial clefts
Orofacial clefts are due to failure of fusion of maxillary and pre-maxillary processes.
Orofacial clefts
Orofacial clefts are due to failure of fusion of maxillary and pre-maxillary processes. They may be unilateral or bilateral and result in cleft lip and/or cleft palate. The incidence is 71/1000 live births.
Causes
Multifactorial and includes genetic and environmental factors. 66% of clefts are isolated. The majority have no obvious cause.
- Environmental factors: maternal folic acid deficiency; maternal exposure to alcohol, tobacco, steroids, anticonvulsants, and retinoic acid.
- 730% are syndromic, e.g. Pierre–Robin syndrome (large midline posterior cleft palate, mandible hypoplasia, prone to upper airway obstruction due to a posteriorly displaced tongue).
Treatment
- Refer to specialized ‘cleft lip and palate’ multidisciplinary team.
- Possible upper airway obstruction is a recognized complication of a large cleft palate, e.g. Pierre–Robin syndrome. If it occurs or is likely:
nurse prone;
the nasopharyngeal airway may be helpful;
monitor SpO2—a low or worsening SpO2 is an ominous sign and should be taken very seriously;
intubation may be difficult and require specialist (ENT) support.
- Feeding problems are common. Specialist nursing input, special feed devices and prosthetic plate (obturator) may all be required if the cleft palate is too large to allow adequate suck.
- Be aware of the increased risk of infections (aspiration pneumonia and, later, secretory otitis media with conductive hearing loss). Treat as appropriate.
- Surgical repair of the lip is usually at 3mths; palate at 6–12mths.
- Later speech defects and dental problems can occur requiring speech therapy and dental input respectively.
Prognosis
Repair of unilateral complete or incomplete lesions usually produces a good result. As well as those complications described above later problems may include:
- Hindered parental bonding.
Psychological morbidity.