The Medical Journal of Basrah University

Abstract

ABSTRACT
The data of this study of cleft lip & Palate are related to a sample of 638 patients who were born with this deformity and
were referred to the plastic unit between1994-2003. These patients were evaluated in respect to age at presentation,
family history, and type of deformity, sex ratio, laterality and clinical severity. All patients were operated on then followed
up for a period of 5 months to 2.5 years. The results of the analysis of the data show that there is steady increase in the
number of referred cases each year. The bulk of the orofacial defect is the isolated cleft lip, which account for 44.4% of
the cases with male predominance except in cleft palate. Left sided cleft with or with out palate was found to be as twice
common as right side cleft lip. The unilateral cleft is three times as bilateral; while in cleft lip and palate it's twice as
common. The increase in the number of referred cases may reflect the increase in the birth rate and also increase in the
number of cases due to increase environmental pollution.