Cleft Lip and Palate in a Norwegian Population: II. A Numerical Study of 1555 CLP-patients admitted for Surgical Treatment 1954–75

Abstract

Since 1954 about 60% of all cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients in Norway have been treated in the Department of Plastic Surgery, Rikshospitalet. Oslo. In the period 1954–75, 1555 new CLP cases were admitted to this department. 56.9% of the affected children were males, and 43.1% females. The percentage of patients in each of the three main groups of clefts was: Cleft lip 27.5%, cleft lip and palate 33.8%, cleft palate 38.7%. The most common cleft among males was cleft lip and palate; there were twice as many males as females in this group. The most common cleft among females was the isolated cleft palate. In patients with unilateral clefts the left side was affected in 68.6%, the right side in 31.4%. In bilateral asymmetrical clefts the left side was the most severely affected in 60.5% of the patients. A positive family history was recorded in 27.5% of the whole group. The highest percentage with a positive family history was found in the cleft lip and palate group (35.4%). Patients with complete clefts more often had a positive family history than those with incomplete clefts. Associated congenital malformations were found in 11.5% of the patients, with the highest incidence (16.8%) in the isolated cleft palate group. Mental retardation was the most common associated defect, occurring in 5% of the patients.