Cleft Palate

Excerpt

Cleft lip and palate, one of the most common congenital craniofacial abnormalities, is characterized by failure of normal fusion of the palate and lip during development, resulting in a clinically evident discontinuity of the lip or palate at birth. Cleft lip and palate (CL/P) and cleft palate alone (CPO) are not only cosmetic deformities but have significant functional morbidity for the newborn without adequate management. CL/P impacts the newborn's ability to feed in multiple ways, including increased nasal reflux, inability to form an adequate latch, and increased work of feeding, leading to fatigue.

Furthermore, while CL/P and CPO frequently occur in isolation, in up to 30% of cases, these defects can also be part of a congenital syndrome, which must be recognized to initiate early interprofessional management. This resource primarily discusses an overview of cleft palate. Please see StatPearls' companion resources, "Cleft Palate Repair," "Cleft Lip," and "Cleft Lip Repair," for more detailed information.