TITLE:
Epidemiology, Clinical Aspects and Management of Cleft Lip and/or Palate in Burkina Faso: A Humanitarian Pediatric Surgery-Based Study
AUTHORS:
Kisito Nagalo, Isso Ouédraogo, Jean-Martin Laberge, Louise Caouette-Laberge, Jean Turgeon
KEYWORDS:
Orofacial Clefts, Cleft Lip and/or Palate, Congenital Malformations, Humanitarian Surgery, International Cooperation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.5 No.2,
May
15,
2015
ABSTRACT: Background: Cleft lip and/or palate
are the most common orofacial malformations. Many studies, especially in
developed countries have been conducted on this malformation, but in Burkina
Faso, data are scarce and they are not specific to children. The aim of this
study was to report the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of
cleft lip and/or palate in children in a low-income country. Materials and
Method: The authors conducted a retrospective descriptive study based on data
of three humanitarian missions of pediatric reconstructive facial surgery which
took place in 2007, 2010 and 2014 at Clinique El Fateh-Suka in Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso. All children of 0 - 14 years of age, presenting with cleft lip
and/or palate, were included in the study. Results: A total of 185 cases of
cleft lip and/or palate were seen during these three humanitarian surgery
missions. There were 100 boys and 85 girls. The average age of the children was
2.4 ± 3.2 years [0 - 12 years]; there were 8.7% newborns. The commonest type of
cleft was cleft lip and palate (49.7%) followed by isolated cleft lip (48.7%)
and isolated cleft palate (1.6%). The left side was the most affected (49.2%).
In 21.1% of cases, clefts were associated with other congenital malformations.
In total, 150 of 185 (81.1%) children underwent surgery and there were no
postoperative complications reported. Conclusions: Epidemiological and clinical
characteristics of cleft lip and/or palate observed in this study are not very
different from those described elsewhere in Africa. However, in our conditions,
there are circumstances and structural factors which hinder the diagnosis and
constitute challenges that must be addressed for adequate management of this
congenital, highly disfiguring malformation.