Epidemiology
Etiology
- Multifactorial inheritance: Interaction of genetic and environmental factors.
- Risk Factors: Maternal smoking, alcohol use, anticonvulsant use (e.g., phenytoin, valproate), retinoic acid, and folate deficiency.
- Prevalence: Cleft lip (± palate) is more common in males; isolated cleft palate is more common in females.
- Common congenital anomaly (1:700 to 1:1000 births).
Pathophysiology
- Cleft Lip (CL):
- Failure of fusion of the maxillary prominence and medial nasal prominence. t
- Occurs during the 6th–7th weeks of gestation.
- Primary palate defect.
- Cleft Palate (CP):
- Failure of fusion of the two lateral palatine shelves with each other, the nasal septum, and/or the primary palate.
- Occurs during the 7th–12th weeks of gestation.
- Secondary palate defect.
Clinical features
Diagnostics
Treatment