Clinical Analysis of 895 Cleft Lip and Palate Patients

Kim, Seok Kwun; Park, Ji Hoon; Lee, Keun Cheol; Park, Jung Min; Kim, Jeong Tae

Abstract

Cleft of the lip and palate is one of the most common congenital anomalies. Considerable epidemiologic work has been done in different parts of the world. The predisposing cause of these anomalies are multifactorial. Heredity, environment, nutrition and infection have been reported to be the predisposing cause. The aim of this study is to examine clinical aspect of cleft lip and palate by investigating nine items such as incidence, type of cleft, associated anomaly and familial history in last 10 years. From 1991 to 2000, clinical analysis of patients with cleft lip and palate was carried out in Dong-A university hospital. Eight hundred ninety-five patients were operated during that period and we investigated clinical aspect through chart review retrospectively. The result of clinical analysis were as follows. Of the 895 patients, 24% had cleft lip only, 44% had cleft lip and palate and 32% had cleft palate only. In cases of cleft lip with or without cleft palate, the most commonly affected side was the left(55%). Cleft lip and cleft lip with palate were more frequent in the male patients, while cleft palate were more frequent in the female patients. Associated anomalies were present in 8.5% of cases. A positive familial history was found in 5% of cases. 75 of 895 mothers(8.4%) had a history of disease and 98 of 895 mothers(11%) had a history of taking drugs during the first trimester. The significant percentage of patients(48%) was the first baby. Maternal age of affected children was most frequently in the range of 25 to 29. The operation was performed most frequently while the baby was 3 to 5 months old in cleft lip patients and 6 months to 1 year old in cleft palate.