An Assessment of Pattern of Distribution of Cleft Lip and Palate Patients Reported to A Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi, A Retrospective Study

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the  patterns of cleft lip and palate by its type, side, gender, laterality and extent of involvement of hard and/or soft palate in patients reported to a tertiary care hospital in Karachi. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted from January 2016 to January 2017 at Saifee hospital Karachi. It includes patient’s data from December 2014 till December 2015. Total 198 patients with diagnosed cleft lip and /palate anomaly were included in the study.  Data was collected by patient record forms and relevant findings were recorded on a predesigned proforma. Data was tabulated and analyzed using SPSS 17.00. Results:  Out of 198 patients 117 patients were males (59%). Total 54(27.27%)) cases of isolated cleft lip were observed, isolated cleft palate cases were 34(17.17%)  while mixed cleft lip and palate cases were 110 (55.55%). Out of 54 cases of isolated cleft lip 43(79.62%) cases were unilateral, in which 26(48.14%) were left sided and 17(31.48%) were right sided while 11 (20.37%) cases were bilateral. Among mixed cleft lip and palate patients 82(74.54%)  were unilateral having 48(43.63%) left sided  and 34(31%) were right sided while 28(25.45%)  were identified as bilateral. Total unilateral cases were 125(63.13%). Total left sided cases were 74 (37.37%) and right sided  were 51(25.75%). Total bilateral cases were 39(19.69%). Cases of isolated cleft palate were divided into mix hard and soft palate cleft which were 21(61.76%) while soft palate clefts were 13(38.23%). Conclusion: I the  clefts of mixed lip and palate was most common type, unilateral cleft lip and clefts of left side of both lip and palate comprised of major segment of cleft patients and  incomplete clefts of both lip and palate are more common in terms of extent in a tertiary care hospital of Karachi. Key words:  Cleft Lip Palate, Tertiary Care, .