Evolution of Cleft Care

Care for patients with cleft lip and/or palate begins in infancy and extends into adulthood. Although surgery can restore normal anatomy, it involves general anesthesia and generates scars which may impact facial growth and function in the developing child. Thus, surgical techniques for cleft lip and palate repair have undergone continuous scrutiny with many variations in techniques to maximize functional and aesthetic outcomes while minimizing the number of interventions. In this chapter, we discuss five landmark publications which have resulted in significant shifts in clinical practice. These five publications have shaped modern practice and the landscape of both basic and clinical research.