Cleft deformities in adults and children aged over six years in Nigeria: Reasons for late presentation and management challenges

Figures & data

Figure 1 A 14-year-old girl with a complete unilateral cleft of the lip and alveolus.

Figure 2 A 12-year-old boy with an incomplete cleft of the lip.

Figure 3 A 35-year-old woman with a cleft of hard and soft palate.

Table 1 Characteristics of patients with delayed presentation of cleft deformities

Age range (years)	Number	(%)
6–10	14	(32.6)
11–20	13	(30.2)
21–30	10	(23.2)
31–37	6	(14.0)
Total	43	(100)
Gender
Male	21	(48.8)
Female	22	(51.2)
Total	43	(100)
Types of cleft deformity
Unilateral cleft lip ± alveolus	17	(39.5)
Bilateral cleft lip ± alveolus	2	(4.6)
Unilateral cleft lip and palate	6	(14.0)
Bilateral cleft lip and palate	2	(4.6)
Cleft hard and soft palate	9	(21.0)
Isolated cleft of soft palate	7	(16.3)
Total	43	(100)

Table 2 Reasons for late presentation

Reason	Number	(%)
Lack of money	34	(56.7)
Lack of awareness of treatment availability	8	(13.3)
Fear of death from surgery	2	(3.3)
Superstition	5	(8.3)
Distance to health services	11	(18.4)
Total	60	(100)1

Note:

1 More than one reason was given by some patients.

Figure 4 Repair of an incomplete cleft of the lip using Tennison–Randall triangular technique under local anesthesia: A) preoperative appearance; B) postoperative appearance.

Figure 5 Surgical revision of bilateral cleft lip repair using fork flap technique: A) preoperative appearance; B) postoperative appearance.

Figure 6 Repair of a complete cleft of the palate using von Langenbeck’s technique: A) preoperative appearance; B) postoperative appearance.

Table 3 Type of surgical procedure

Type of repair	Number	(%)
Unilateral cleft lip repair	15	(34.9)
Cleft palate repair	15	(34.9)
Lip revision	6	(13.9)
Fistula repair	7	(16.3)
Total	43	(100)

Figure 7 A rotated and protruding maxillary incisor in an adult with an unrepaired cleft lip and alveolus.