CLEFT LIP AND PALATE; PREVALENCE, PATIENTS PRESENTING TO A SURGICAL WARD AT ALLIED HOSPITAL FAISALABAD, IN ONE YEAR

Abstract

A prospective study was conducted to look for prevalence of cleft lip and palate in a population presenting to a surgical unit in a teaching hospital. Objectives: To see prevalence of cleft lip and palate alone, lip and palate combined, right or left sided, male to female distribution, and possible factors responsible for clefting. Study Design: A prospective study. Setting: Surgical Unit II at Allied Hospital Faisalabad. Period: March 2009 to March 2010 for one year. Materials and Methods: Total 55 patients were treated in year 2009 out of total 17900 (0.3 %) patients admitted in all surgical wards and 6508 patients admitted in surgical unit II (0.8%). Patients were divided into three groups, cleft lip alone (group A), cleft palate alone (group B) and combined cleft lip and palate (group C). Children up to the age of 5 years with congenital abnormality were included in study. Results: Out of 6508 patients admitted in surgical unit II 55 patients (0.8%) had cleft lip and palate defect. 55 patients were divided in three groups. In group A, 32 patients presented with cleft lip alone (58.1 %), 16 (29 %) were males and 16 (29 %) were females, 21 patients have left sided (38 %), 4 right sided (7.27%) and 7 patients have bilateral (12.72 %) defects. 2 patients (3.63 %) had family history of cleft lip and both were males. In group B, 12 patients (21.8 %) had cleft palate alone, 7 patients (12.72 %) were males and 5 patients (9 %) were females, 10 patients (1.18 %) had soft palate only while 2 patients (3.63 %) had compete (hard and soft) palatal defect. In group C, 11 patients, had cleft lip and palate combined (20 %), 6 patients were males (10.9 %) and 5 patients (9 %) were females, 8 patients (14.54 %) had only soft palate defect while 3 patients (5.45 %) had complete palatal defect associated with 8 patients (14.54 %) left sided unilateral lip defect and 3 patients (5.45%) had bilateral cleft lip. All patients were operated without any mortality. Ages of mothers at earliest were 16 and 18 years, 3 cousin marriages, (5.45 %) all fathers were smokers, belonged to poor socio economic families and no history of mother's exposure to radiation, drug abuse during gestational life. Conclusion: As it is obvious from this study that all patients belongs to poor socio economics group, and all fathers were smokers, 3 patients born in parents who had cousin marriages (5.45 %) 2 patients (3.63 %) with family history, cleft lip and palate are multifactorial congenital abnormalities, runs in families and is influenced by various environmental factors.