%0 Journal Article
%T A status report on management of cleft lip and palate in India
%A Gopalakrishna A
%A Agrawal Karoon
%J Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery
%D 2010
%I Medknow Publications
%X Introduction: This national survey on the management of cleft lip and palate (CLP) in India is the first of its kind. Objective: To collect basic data on the management of patients with CLP in India for further evaluation. Materials and Methods: A proforma was designed and sent to all the surgeons treating CLP in India. It was publicized through internet, emails, post and through personal communication. Subjects: 293 cleft surgeons representing 112 centers responded to the questionnaire. Most of the forms were filled up by personal interview. Results: The cleft workload of the participating centers is between 10 and 2000 surgeries annually. These centers collectively perform 32,500-34,700 primary and secondary cleft surgeries every year. The responses were analyzed using Microsoft excel and 112 as the sample size. Most surgeons are repairing cleft lip between 3-6 months and cleft palate between 6 months to 1 year. Millard and Tennison repairs form the mainstay of lip repair. Multiple techniques are used for palate repair. Presurgical orthopedics, lip adhesion, nasendoscopy, speech therapy, video-fluoroscopy and orthognathic surgery were not always available and in some cases not availed of even when available. Conclusion: Management of CLP differs in India. Primary surgical practices are almost similar to other studies. There is a lack of interdisciplinary approach in majority of the centers, and hence, there is a need for better interaction amongst the specialists. A more comprehensive study with an improved questionnaire would be desirable.
%K Cleft lip and palate
%K cleft survey
%K cleft management protocol
%U http://www.ijps.org/article.asp?issn=0970-0358;year=2010;volume=43;issue=1;spage=66;epage=75;aulast=Gopalakrishna