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Understanding cleft lip and palate. 1: an overview
Rona Slator1, Jane Russell, Melody Bridges
1West Midlands Regional Cleft Centre, Birmingham Children's Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham.
Insights
Cleft lip and/or palate affects 1:700 UK infants, presenting as isolated or syndromic anomalies. This series overview details cleft types and regional service organization in England and Wales.
Area of Science:
- Craniofacial anomalies
- Public health
- Healthcare organization
Background:
- Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) is a common congenital anomaly affecting approximately 1 in 700 live births in the UK.
- CL/P can occur as an isolated condition or as part of a wider genetic syndrome, indicating complex etiology.
- Understanding the variations in CL/P and the structure of care is crucial for affected families and healthcare providers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an introductory overview of the different classifications of cleft lip and/or palate.
- To describe the organizational structure of specialized cleft services across England and Wales.
- To establish a foundational understanding for a series on cleft lip and palate management.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of cleft classifications.
- Descriptive analysis of the organizational models for regional cleft services in England and Wales.
- Synthesis of information for an introductory article.
Main Results:
- Cleft lip and/or palate encompasses a spectrum of conditions with varying clinical presentations.
- England and Wales have established regional cleft networks to manage care.
- These services aim to provide coordinated multidisciplinary support for individuals with clefts.
Conclusions:
- This article serves as an introduction to the diverse nature of cleft lip and palate.
- It highlights the organized, regional approach to managing cleft care in England and Wales.
- Further articles in the series will delve deeper into specific aspects of cleft management.
Abstract:
Cleft lip and/or cleft palate affects about 1:700 babies born in the UK and may occur as a single anomaly or in association with other congenital abnormalities as part of a syndrome. This article, the first in a series, provides a brief overview of the different types of cleft lip and palate and describes the organisation of regional cleft services in England and Wales.
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