Cleft Lip

Causes of cleft lip

A cleft lip and palate is a congenital malformation that affects about 1 in every 700 live births in the United States each year. While this number may seem high to some, it is far less than the number of children born with a cleft lip and palate in Moyobamba, Peru, where they have more than triple that amount.

Clefting generally occurs in the the early embryonic stages, between the fourth and tenth week of gestation. Research is closing in on determining the causes of clefting, and cleft lip treatment has advanced to provide more effect ways to correct the problem.

Factors That Many Cause Clefting

Researchers have identified some of the factors that may increase the chance of a child being born with a cleft lip and palate. As with so many other birth defects, fetal environmental conditions may be to blame. These may include maternal diseases, chemotherapy, radiation, alcohol use, an excess of retinoic acids or anticonvulsant medications. Genetic factors may also play a part.

Clefting has also been linked to pregnancies in woman older than 35, teenage pregnancies and increased consumption of teratogens during the early months of pregnancy. Additional risk factors may be lack of prenatal care and cigarette smoking, lack of a balanced diet, chronic use of non-prescription drugs or other substance abuse during pregnancy.

Cleft Lip and Palate Repair

A cleft lip is less serious than a cleft palate and is usually closed with surgery. Cleft lip surgery usually takes place while the the person is still in their childhood. Surgery for a cleft palate is more complicated than the tissue repair in a cleft lip surgery. This is because the roof of the mouth needs to closed, not just the lip. This requires careful repositioning of the tissue and muscles located in the roof of the mouth.

While a cleft palate can sometimes be repaired in as little as one surgery, treating a child born with a cleft continues through adolescence and sometimes even into adulthood. At times, this treatment can include speech therapy and psychological counseling. In addition, a second surgery may be required to improve function and appearance as the child grows.