Clefts lip and palate in cameroon: epidemiological and clinical aspects. surgical and orthodontic treatment

Introduction and objectives: Clefts lip and palate are congenital malformations due to a lack of fusion facial bud of the embryo between the 35th to 40thday of the intra uterine life. Cleft affects higher lip, palate and occasionally velum. The aim of our work was to describe the follow up of cleft lip and palate in Central Africa precisely in Cameroon. Methodology: To attain our aim, we have done a prospective descriptive and analytic study over a period of 25 months from October 2013 to November 2015 in Ngaoundere Protestant Hospital. Our sample was done by consecutive recruitment without limitation of the number of patients to include in our study. Results: Our study concerned 145 patients with 60% (n=87) of male and patients of the age of 2 to 9 years old gave 37.8% (n=55) of the total effective. Labio-alveolar cleft were the most frequent and represented 42.2% (n=61) of all clefts. The left part of the mouth was the most affected part registered 46.7% (n=21) and patients presented in majority a complete character of their malformations (62.2%, n= 78).84% (n = 122) of patients received 1 cleft repair while 11% (n = 8) had 2 repairs. Cheiloplastyaccording to Millardwas the mostpopularsurgical technique (95.6%, n = 138). Conclusion : Cleft lip and palate are congenital malformations causing many disorders as functional, esthetical and psychological aspects. So, considering troubles due to this malformation, it urges to include Bucco-dental Doctor and orthodontists in the multidisciplinary team for better follow up of clefts in our milieu. Many factors as genetic and environmental increase the risk to develop this affection.