Early repair for infants with cleft lip and nose.

OBJECTIVE

To study the results 10 years after early surgical cleft lip and nose repair.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

We present the outcome of 123 early cleft lip repairs whose condition was managed in a multidisciplinary team according to a strict protocol. We give the observation results of operations of a single surgeon's neonatal surgery over a 10-year period in term of aesthetic assessments and dental arch relationships. One hundred and twenty-three patients were operated on during the first 4 weeks of life; a subgroup of 40 child had been operated on at a week or less of age.

RESULTS

The results show good aesthetic assessments and dental relationships, with facial growth appropriate for the age.

CONCLUSIONS

We are currently encouraging early cleft lip and nose repair in the full-term baby as the good method of management of newborns with cleft.