Pattern and clinical profile of patients with cleft lip and palate at pediatrics surgical hospital in Ethiopia

Abstract: Cleft lip and palate are among the most common congenital anomalies of the
head and neck region. Oral-facial clefts can be observed on the lips, jaw bones, and hard and
soft palates. This study aimed to assess the Pattern, clinical of children with cleft lip and/or palate who
visit CURE Children’s Hospital Ethiopia.

A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients who were operated from
January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2022, at the Cure Children’s Hospital in Ethiopia. The
Demographic and clinical data of cleft patients were collected using Smile Train Express (STX).
The collected data underwent analysis using descriptive statistics with SPSS version 26.

The study included 1379 surgeries done on patients with non-syndromic cleft palate or
lip. The average age at surgery was 21 months, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.78:1. The left
side was the most affected, and it was unilateral. The commonest surgery done was primary
unilateral lip-nose repair, with 694 (50.3%). The most common surgical technique used is Millard
rotation advancement 823 (59.7%). Regarding post-operative complications, palatal fistula
surgeries done for 73 (8.3%) patients and lip and nose revisions done for 38(2.75%).

The study reveals the common form of presentation was a left-sided, unilateral
cleft lip, which is treated with unilateral lip-nose repair. The high magnitude of the palatal fistula
is also reported, with the most common millard rotation advancement surgical treatment in the
study area. Therefore, policymakers and health planners should strengthen early treatment of
congenital anomalies in children and create awareness about the availability of treatment to
prevent long-term deformities related to cleft lip and palate.