Congenital associated malformations in a sample of Jordanian patients with cleft lip and palate

To report the prevalence of associated congenital malformations in Jordanian subjects with oral clefts.

A retrospective study of 196 cleft patients was carried out at the Cleft Centre at King Abdullah University Hospital and Maxillofacial Unit at Jordan University of Science and Technology during the period December 2005 to September 2006. Data were collected by interviewing the parents or patients and reviewing the patient's medical records.

Twenty-eight cleft subjects had 44 associated malformations other than cleft. Prevalence of associated congenital malformations in Jordanian cleft patients was 14.3%. Of 44 associated malformations, 20 (45.5%) affected the cardiovascular system (CVS), 7 (15.9%) affected the skeletal system, 6 (13.6%) affected the central nervous system, 4 (9.1%) affected the urogenital system, 4 (9.1%) affected the eyes, 2 (4.5%) affected the ears, and 1 (2.3%) affected the digestive system. Approximately 35.3% of these anomalies affected cleft palate subjects, while 17.4% occurred in bilateral cleft lip with or without cleft palate subjects, and 6.4% affected unilateral cleft lip with or without cleft palate subjects. The most commonly recorded anomaly was atrial septal defect (15.9%).

Increased risk of associated malformations in children with clefts must to be highlighted and disseminated to health professionals involved in the management of children with clefts. Routine screening for other malformation, especially cardiac, skeletal, and central nervous system malformations, may need to be considered in infants with clefts, and genetic counseling seems warranted in most of these complicated cases. There should be a close liaison between the cleft team members to comprehensively cover all aspects of the cleft patient's management.