1.1. CLEFT LIP SURGERY To repair a cleft lip, the surgeon will make an incision on either side of the cleft from the mouth into the nostril. The goal in lip repair is to create a structure of normal appearance and function. This is accomplished by reconstructing the normal anatomical landmarks such as the philtral ridge, vermilion cutaneous border, nostril floor, and orbicularis muscle for lip function. The inclusion of muscle in the prolabium of the bilateral cleft lip is important to bring motion to a structure which otherwise would remain virtually without animation. The surgeon will then turn the dark pink outer portion of the cleft down and pull the muscle and the skin of the lip together to close the separation. Muscle function and the normal "cupid's bow" shape of the mouth are restored. The nostril deformity often associated with cleft lip will also be improved at the time of lip repair.
1.2. CLEFT PALATE SURGERY Repair of the palate is directed at producing normal speech, restoring Eustachian tube function, attaining closure of oronsasal fistulas, and minimizing alterations in maxillary growth. In some children, a cleft palate may involve only a tiny portion at the back of the roof of the mouth; for others, it can mean a complete separation that extends from front to back. Just as in cleft lip, cleft palate may appear on one or both sides of the upper mouth. The soft palate may be repaired at the time of lip repair if it is involved, also. This is usually done at 3 months. The hard palate is done when the baby is older and the teeth have erupted (avoiding growth disturbance to the teeth and maxilla), usually at the age of 18 months. To repair a cleft palate, the surgeon will make an incision on both sides of the separation, moving tissue from each side of the cleft to the center or midline of the roof of the mouth. This rebuilds the palate, joining muscle together and providing enough length in the palate so the child can eat and learn to speak properly.
2. CLEFT PALATE
2.1. Is an opening in the roof of the mouth due to a failure of the palatal shelves to come fully together. Palatal shelves grow from the side of the mouth and fuse during the first months of development as an embryo. The opening in the palate permits communication between the nasal passages and the mouth.
2.2. Difficulty feeding most babies with cleft lip can breast-feed, a cleft palate may make sucking difficult. Hearing Children with a cleft palate can have compications with hearing. May develop glue ear or ear infections. Speech and language problems If a cleft palate is not repaired with surgery, it will lead to speech problems when the child is older. The cleft palate is therefore carefully repaired before speech development starts and in most cases the child goes on to develop normal speech. Dental health Children with a cleft palate will have problems with tooth development and more vulnerable to tooth decay.
3. CLEFT LIP
3.1. A cleft lip happens when the tissue that makes up the lip does not join completely before birth. The lip forms normally between the 4th and 7th week. if the tissue does not grow together normally an opening in the lip if formed. The opening in the lip can be a small slit or it can be a large opening that goes through the lip into the nose. A cleft lip can be on one or both sides of the lip or in the middle of the lip, which occurs very rarely. Children with a cleft lip also can have a cleft palate.
