Cleft lip and / or palate is the commonest facial birth defect, affecting anywhere from 1:1000 to 1:500 live births. Surgery is mandatory in all to restore facial aesthetics and allow for normal speech development.
For the past decade, I have had the
pleasure of working within a team at the Red Cross
Childrens' Hospital Cleft Palate Unit. , This was the
brainchild of a local Plastic Surgeon, Dr David Davies,
who started the Unit a little over 50 years ago. We treat
children with clefts from birth till the age of 18.
It is beyond the scope of this site page to go in to every
detail of cleft care, but suffice it to say that a team of
specialists is required, with the plastic surgeon being
just one cog in the wheel. We like to see and evaluate the
child as early as possible – even on the day of birth, if
at all practical. Surgery is generally not undertaken
before the age of 3 months, and usually the lip and soft
palate are addressed at this time, with the hard palate
(and possible soft palate lengthening) done some months
later, to have all the primary surgery complete by no
later than 18 months. Early referrals will be made to a
Speech Pathologist, Orthodontist, Psychologist, ENT
surgeon and Audiologist. Further surgery may be undertaken
as speech develops and bony surgery to the gum is
typically done between the ages of 7 and 9 years.
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Learn more about Cleft Lip & Palate.
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