CLEFT & CRANIOFACIAL SURGERY

Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common congenital facial differences or birth defects in children, negatively impacting their lives and significantly affecting their families.

These birth differences occur when the tissues and bones inside the mouth do not fuse properly, resulting in a gap in the upper lip and/or palate. This condition is caused by the interaction of environmental and genetic factors and significantly decreases quality of life. Therefore, it is vital to understand the pathogenesis of these defects to provide optimal care and counselling to patients and their families.

Hospital USM has been managing cleft lip and palate patients since 1997. Children born with cleft lip and/or palate require special care through a multidisciplinary team approach. This includes corrective surgery by plastic surgeons, proper dental care, orthodontic services, alveolar bone grafts, and even speech therapy to manage or correct their conditions. With appropriate treatment, children born with these conditions can have a good quality of life and a normal life expectancy.

The combination of clinical care and intense research activities contributes to a better understanding of these craniofacial differences and ultimately improves their management.