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Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in children with cleft lip and/or palate: a 30-year pH-metry study

Martin Schils1, Perrine Ledent1, Kallirroi Kotilea2

  • 1Pediatric Plastic Department, Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital, ULB, Brussels, Belgium.

The British Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
|November 2, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Nearly one in five infants with orofacial clefts experience acid gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This study highlights the need for routine gastroenterological evaluation in managing these children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Gastroenterology
  • Craniofacial Anomalies

Background:

  • Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) suspicion in children with orofacial clefts lacked definitive proof due to diagnostic limitations.
  • Establishing the prevalence of acid reflux in infants with cleft lip, palate, or both is crucial for comprehensive care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of acid gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in pediatric patients with isolated cleft lip (CL), cleft palate (CP), and cleft lip and palate (CLP).
  • To utilize pH-metry as a diagnostic tool prior to primary surgical intervention.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 234 patients (CL: 52, CP: 87, CLP: 95) evaluated between January 1988 and December 2017.
  • pH-metry was employed to assess acid reflux prevalence before primary surgery.

Main Results:

  • Acid GERD prevalence was 17.02% in CL, 16.09% in CP, and 19.38% in CLP groups.
  • No significant differences in reflux index or secondary pH-metry parameters were observed among the cleft types.

Conclusions:

  • Approximately 19% of infants with orofacial clefts are affected by acid GERD.
  • Routine gastroenterological assessment and follow-up are recommended within the multidisciplinary management of children with orofacial clefts.

Keywords:
cleft lipcleft palategastroesophageal reflux

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