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Cleft surgery in East timor: the first four years
Mark H Moore1, Antonioe L Fernandes
1Overseas Specialist Surgical Association of Australia, Adelaide, South Australia. mhmoore@adelaide.on.net
ANZ Journal of Surgery
|August 19, 2006
Summary
A surgical team provided reconstructive services in East Timor, successfully treating 267 cases of cleft lip and palate deformities in four years. This initiative restored trust in the nation's developing healthcare system.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Global Health
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Established the first reconstructive surgical service in East Timor post-1999 independence.
- Initiated a cleft lip and palate surgical program to address a critical need.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the surgical experience and outcomes for cleft lip and palate patients in East Timor over four years.
Main Methods:
- Systematic record-keeping of all cleft surgical procedures from June 2000.
- Review of clinical data, procedures performed, and patient outcomes.
Main Results:
- Performed 267 cleft lip and palate surgeries out of 519 total reconstructive procedures.
- Cleft lip and nose repairs were most frequent; palate repair numbers increased over time.
- Increasing local confidence in the surgical service was observed.
Conclusions:
- A consistent cleft lip and palate surgical team facilitated successful correction of numerous untreated cases.
- The program significantly contributed to rebuilding trust in East Timor's nascent health system.
