Abstract
Cleft lip with or without cleft palate is the most common orofacial congenital anomaly among live births. This study was carried out to determine the incidence of cleft lip and palate in patients reporting to Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Craniofacial Surgery during 2010-2014. The study was performed on 1080 patients reporting in OPD of Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Craniofacial Surgery during 2010-2014. All patients were screened for oral clefts. Demographic data including age, gender, religion, province and type of oral clefts were recorded for analysis. Of total 1080 patients, male:female ratio was 0.9:1; 55.37% were Hindus, 35.28% were Muslims and 9.35% were Christians. Kerala:Karnataka ratio was 1.45:1. The age distribution was 0-10years ( 43%) > 11-20years (41%) > 21-30years (14%) > 31- 40years (2%). The incidence of cleft lip was 351/1080 (32.5%) of which 267 (76.07%) were complete unilateral cases and 62 (17.66%) were complete bilateral cases and 22 (6.27%) were incomplete unilateral cases. The incidence of cleft alveolus was 335/1080 (31.02%) of which 273 (81.49%) were complete unilateral cases and 36 (18.51%) were complete bilateral cases. The incidence of cleft hard-palate was 310/1080 (24%) and that of cleft soft-palate was 84/1080 (6%). The data in this study seems to be of limited size for area as-well-as patients. Most of the studies in literature on this subject is few and inadequate. Environmental and genetic focused studies should be carried out for better understanding and providing better prevention and care to these patients.