Cleft Lip and Palate in Anbar Province

Abstract

Background: Orofacial clefts are birth defects where the mouth or roof of the mouth (palate) does not grow together properly during development, Orofacial clefts include cleft lip [CL], cleft lip and palate [CLP], cleft palate [CP] alone, as well as median, lateral [transversal], oblique facial clefts(involved other parts of facial structures and classified by Tessier to 15 lines) are among the most common congenital anomalies at birth. Aim: To study the types of clefts lip and palate and its distribution in Al Anbar province. Patients and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out at Maxillofacial Unit, Ramadi Teaching Hospital from the period of August 2007 till June 2010. Result: 125 cases of clefts (of different types) were treated surgically. Children who have an orofacial cleft require several surgical procedures and complex medical treatments. The study showed that 81 of patients with cleft palate, 27 with cleft lip and 17 with cleft lip and palate.Conclusion: Increasing in number of cleft lip in female (60%). Increasing the percent of cleft palate may be related to environmental factors