Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Multidisciplinary Cleft Clinic.

Background: A retrospective review of cleft lip and palate sur-geries at our hospital during 2001Y2005 showed an increase inpatients treated per year. The aim of the study was to review theactivities of the clinic, hence to determine the variation in numberof cleft lip and palate cases and surgeries from 2006 to 2009, andalso to identify the commonest type of cleft cases during the sameperiod.Methods: Data for this retrospective study were obtained fromthe outpatient department records of the cleft clinic and operatingtheater. Information collected included demographic features ofthe patients, types of cleft lip/palate, number of attendance, andsurgeries performed. The data were then analyzed using SPSSversion 12.0.Results: A total of 528 patients were operated on for cleft lip/andpalate (ie, 132 surgeries per year). Most patients (54.2%, n = 286)were boys. The age of the patients ranged from 1 to 25 months, witha mean age of 3.7 months. There was also an increase in cleftlip surgeries from 2006 to 2009, whereas cleft palate surgeries de-creased toward the year 2009. In terms of types, cleft lip (73.1%,n = 386) outnumbered cleft palate. Also, unilateral clefts (70.5%,n = 372), in terms of position, were the majority.Conclusions: The number of cleft surgeries was found to increaseperyear,andunilateralcleftlipwasidentifiedasthecommonesttypeof cleft cases. Financial, logistic, and training support to cleft clinicsin developing countries would play an essential role in the treatmentof cleft patients.Key Words: Cleft lip/palate, multidisciplinary cleft clinic,patient management, cleft lip/palate repair, national healthinsurance scheme(J Craniofac Surg 2011;22: 532Y536)