How To Treat Bilateral Cleft Lip
Cleft lips are more common than you might think. e. You may have even wondered if your child will ever have the chance to have a real relationship with someone else.
But don’t worry! There are plenty of ways for your child with bilateral cleft lip to lead a normal, happy life. Here are some tips on how you can treat your child’s bilateral cleft lip.
Your child’s care plan
Cleft lip or palate in children requires multiple treatments and assessments throughout their life. Surgery is typically the first treatment, followed by speech therapy and dental care. A specialist cleft team at an NHS cleft centre will care for the child, who will have a tailored care plan. The care plan includes feeding assistance, support for parents, hearing tests, and pediatric assessment.
Lip repair surgery is usually performed around 3 months old, with stitches used to repair and close the cleft lip. Most babies are hospitalized for 1 to 2 days, with the surgeon trying to line up the scar with the natural lines of the lip. The scar should fade over time.
Palate repair surgery is usually done between 6 and 12 months old, closing the gap in the roof of the mouth and rearranging the muscles and lining of the palate. The wound is closed with dissolvable stitches and usually takes about 2 hours. Most children are hospitalized for 1 to 3 days, with arrangements made for the parent to stay with them.
Additional surgery may be needed at a later stage to improve the appearance and function of the lips and palate, improve the shape of the nose (rhinoplasty), or improve the appearance of the jaw. Some children born with a cleft lip or palate may have a small or “set-back” lower jaw.
Feeding advice for cleft palate children is crucial, as they may struggle with breastfeeding due to the gap in the roof of their mouth. A specialist cleft nurse can advise on positioning, alternative feeding methods, and weaning if necessary.
Bilateral Cleft Lip Repair Techniques
A study involving 30 patients with bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity was conducted between 1997 and 2002 using the Mulliken method. The patients were divided into 10 infants with complete cleft lip, 12 with incomplete cleft lip, and eight with bilateral asymmetric cleft lip. A preoperative orthopedic appliance was used in five infants with severe lateral maxillary segment collapse. The mean age at the time of repair was 3.8 months. Postoperative results showed low nasal tip protrusion, wide interalar dimension, short columellar length, short upper cutaneous labial height, and near normal vermilion-mucosal height. All anthropometric values approached controls by 5 years.
Cleft lip Causes
Openings or cracks in the upper lip, the palate, or both are known as cleft lip and cleft palate. When a developing baby’s face doesn’t shut all the way, it can lead to cleft lip and cleft palate.
Among the most prevalent birth abnormalities are cleft lip and cleft palate. Although they are linked to numerous inherited genetic disorders or syndromes, they most frequently manifest as discrete birth abnormalities.
Although cleft lip and cleft palate can be fixed, having a kid born with a cleft can be distressing. Most babies can return to normal function and have a more normal appearance with less scars after a series of procedures.
Signs and symptoms
At birth, a split (cleft) in the lip or palate is typically instantly noticeable. Cleft palate and cleft lip can manifest as:
One or both sides of the face may be affected by a split in the lip and palate.
A lip split that passes from the lip through the upper gum and palate into the base of the nose, or that just looks like a tiny notch in the lip
A fissure in the roof of the mouth that has no effect on facial appearance
Less frequently, a cleft only develops in the soft palate muscles (submucous cleft palate), which are located behind the mouth and are shielded by the oral mucosa. This kind of cleft is frequently missed at birth and might not be identified until symptoms appear later. The following are possible signs and symptoms of submucous cleft palate:
Difficulty with feedings
Difficulty swallowing, with potential for liquids or foods to flow out the nose
Speaking in a nasal tone
Chronic ear infections
When to see a doctor
A cleft lip and cleft palate are commonly noticed at birth, and your doctor may start organizing care at that time. Consult your child’s physician if your youngster exhibits the symptoms of a submucous cleft palate.
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Reasons
When the tissues in the baby’s mouth and face don’t fuse correctly, cleft lip and cleft palate develop. During the second and third months of pregnancy, the tissues that comprise the lip and palate often fuse together. However, in infants with cleft lip and cleft palate, the fusion either never happens or only partially does, leaving a cleft.
Most cleft lip and cleft palate instances, according to researchers, are brought on by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. In many infants, the cause is never identified.
Genes that induce clefting can be passed down from either the mother or the father, either alone or in combination with other indicators of a genetic condition that includes a cleft lip or cleft palate. In certain instances, a cleft is really brought on by an environmental trigger after a baby inherits a gene that increases their risk of developing one.
Risk elements
A baby’s risk of having a cleft lip and palate may be increased by a number of factors, such as:
family background. A child born to parents with a family history of cleft lip or cleft palate is more likely to have a cleft.
exposure to specific chemicals when pregnant. Pregnant women who smoke, drink alcohol, or take certain drugs may be at an increased risk of developing cleft lip and cleft palate.
having diabetes. Pregnant women with diabetes may be more likely to give birth to a child who has a cleft lip, either with or without a cleft palate, according to some research.
becoming overweight when pregnant. According to some research, children born to obese mothers may be more likely to develop cleft lip and palate.
Cleft lip, with or without cleft palate, is more common in males. Females are more likely to have cleft palates without cleft lips. According to reports, Native Americans in the US have the highest prevalence of cleft lip and palate, while African-Americans have the lowest.
Issues
Depending on the kind and severity of the cleft, children with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both encounter different difficulties.
feeding difficulties. After birth, feeding is one of the most pressing issues. While most babies with cleft lip can breast-feed, a cleft palate may make sucking difficult.
hearing loss and ear infections. Particularly vulnerable to middle ear fluid and hearing loss are infants with cleft palates.
dental issues. Tooth development may be impacted if the cleft penetrates the upper gum.
speech issues. A cleft palate can impact the development of proper speech since the palate is utilized to generate sounds. Speech could come off as overly nasal.
difficulties in managing a medical issue. Due to physical disparities and the strain of receiving critical medical care, children with clefts may experience social, emotional, and behavioral issues.
Avoidance
Parents naturally worry about the likelihood of having another kid with a cleft after their first child is born. Although it is impossible to avoid many cases of cleft lip and cleft palate, you can reduce your risk or improve your comprehension by doing the following actions:
Think about genetic counseling. Before you become pregnant, let your doctor know whether you have a family history of cleft lip and cleft palate. To find out your chance of having children with cleft lip and cleft palate, your doctor could recommend that you see a genetic counselor.
Consume prenatal vitamins. Consult your doctor about taking prenatal vitamins if you intend to become pregnant soon.
Avoid alcohol and tobacco use. Pregnancy-related alcohol or tobacco use raises the chance of a child being born with a birth defect.
