Cleft Palate Closure in the Neonate: Preliminary Report

Abstract

Our recent experience with cleft palate closure in the neonatal period (within 28 days of birth) is reviewed in this study. The research involved a series of 21 neonates who presented with untreated cleft palates and underwent a modified Veau-Wardill-Kilner palate closure by a single surgeon between 1991 and 1994. The postoperative clinical follow-up ranged from 8 to 37 months (mean 18 months). All complications discussed do not seem to occur more frequently when surgery is done at this age than at an older age. Our findings demonstrate that cleft palate closure can be safely performed in the neonatal period; we do not, however, recommend that the standard approach should be changed based on this preliminary report.