Cleft palate - resources

Resources - cleft palate

The following organizations are good resources for information on cleft palate:

American Cleft Palate - Craniofacial Association -- acpacares.org/
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association -- www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/cleftlip
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- www.cdc.gov/birth-defects/about/cleft-lip-cleft-palate.html
March of Dimes -- www.marchofdimes.org/complications/cleft-lip-and-cleft-palate.aspx
Operation Smile -- www.operationsmile.org
US National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus -- medlineplus.gov/cleftlipandpalate.html

Cleft lip repair - series
Presentation

<strong>Cleft lip repair - series</strong><p>A cleft lip is an abnormal opening in the middle of the upper lip. A cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth (palate).</p>

<strong>Indication</strong><p>Cleft lip repair and cleft palate repair are indicated for repair of physical deformity and nursing, feeding, or speech problems resulting from cleft lip or palate.</p>

<strong>Procedure</strong><p>While the baby is anesthetized and asleep (general anesthesia), the tissues around the defect are trimmed and sewn together with several layers of stitches (absorbable sutures). The skin is sewn together with very small, fine stitches (sutures) to make the scar as small as possible. In cleft palate repair, tissue from the back of the mouth (pharynx) may be taken to add tissue to the deficient soft palate (this is called a pharyngeal flap). Occasionally more than one surgery is required for complete palate closure.</p>

<strong>Aftercare</strong><p>Most babies heal without complications. The cosmetic result often depends on the severity of the deformity and is usually quite good.</p>

Cleft lip repair - series
Presentation

A Closer Look

Self Care

Review Date: 2/5/2023

Reviewed By: Jennifer K. Mannheim, ARNP, Medical Staff, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Health Library

Cleft palate - resources

Cleft palate

Cleft lip repair - series

Cleft lip repair - series

A Closer Look

Self Care

Related Information