Interdisciplinary Treatment of Cleft Lip and/or Palate – State of the Art

Abstract

Cleft lip and/or palate is one of the most common birth defects in the human population. It is responsible for 65% of craniofacial developmental anomalies, and the therapeutic procedure in this defect, due to the variety and complexity of problems that potentially result from it, can be extremely difficult. Numerous controversies concern both the surgical procedure itself, both primary and secondary, as well as rehabilitation, which in the simplest terms concerns maxillofacial conditions and speech. Over the last quarter of a century, there have been particularly many changes in the concept of treatment of orofacial clefts. This article presents them highlighting the most important new trends. With regard to the surgical treatment itself, the global tendency has been to shorten the date of primary surgical closure of the clefted palate. According to current standards, it should take place in the first year of a child’s life, which is related to both the development of pediatric anesthesiology and a modern view on speech and occlusion rehabilitation in this defect.