The functionally based Leipzig concept for the treatment of patients with cleft lip, alveolus and palate

In the year 1994 the former GDR cleft centre was integrated into the Department of Maxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery of the University of Leipzig. The treatment scheme of functional surgery according to DELAIRE was introduced to this new cleft and craniofacial centre at the University of Leipzig. The interdisciplinary team of specialists meets twice a week during a cleft clinic and takes care of about 900 out-patients per year. In the last decade an average of 40-50 new patients (infants) were admitted for in-patient primary surgery. Lip repair with reconstruction of the perinasal and perioral muscle rings is performed in combination with a primary rhinoplasty at the age of 5-6 months. Hard and soft palate are closed in a one stage procedure before the end of the first year of life. The results at the age of 12 years demonstrate good facial proportions and speaking abilities in far more than 90% of all cases. This functionally based treatment of clefts of lip, alveolus and palate achieves a good outcome with a low number of operative procedures.