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Repairing Cleft Lip or Palate
“A cleft lip occurs early in pregnancy when the two halves of the lip don’t fuse together completely,” said David Staffenberg, MD, surgical director of the Center for Craniofacial Disorders at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, chief of Plastic Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center, and associate professor of Clinical Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery and Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, on an episode of the TV series “Keeping Kids Healthy.” “The same thing can happen in the roof of the mouth. When it doesn’t fuse together, babies are born with a cleft palate.” About one in every 600 to 700 babies is born with a cleft lip and/or a cleft palate. Some children can have either a cleft lip or palate while others have both abnormalities. Doctors don’t know exactly what causes the defect in many cases, but they believe that genetic and environmental factors play a role. Because of the complexity of the problem, a genetic evaluation is a key to the team’s success. At the Center for Craniofacial Disorders at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Dr. Staffenberg works with Alan Shanske, MD, the geneticist who serves as the Clinical Director of the Center. Advanced techniques taught at The Children’s Hospital allow better results than were previously possible. Cleft lip or palate is a complex craniofacial condition that requires a multidisciplinary treatment approach involving many specialists. Most kids undergo one to four different surgeries to correct the defect. Those who have a severe form of cleft lip and/or palate may need many additional surgeries during their lifetime. The good news is that with appropriate treatment most kids with cleft lip and/or palate can live normal, active lives. Early evaluation is important and prenatal ultrasounds are even allowing parents the opportunity to obtain information and meet Dr. Staffenberg before the baby is born. “Coordination is key to success,” says Karen Frieri, whose daughter, Briana, was born with a cleft lip and palate. “It’s imperative to work with a hospital where you can meet with the right specialists and stay on top of the surgical plan.” Today, Briana is a beautiful 8-year-old girl who loves to ride bikes and practice karate. Her mother says Briana’s experiences have made her a stronger and more compassionate child, and both mother and daughter say that Montefiore played in huge role in helping Briana stay healthy and happy. For more information about services available
at the Center for Craniofacial Disorders at
The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, call
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The first thing people notice when
they see children with a cleft lip is
their appearance. If there is a cleft
palate, the quality of their speech may be
poor. But cleft lip and palate can also cause
feeding difficulties, ear infections and
hearing loss, speech and language delays,
and dental problems.
