History and Impact of Cleft Lip and Palate
Cleft lip and palate, also known as orofacial clefts, are common birth defects affecting around 1 in every 700 babies born worldwide. These conditions have been documented throughout history, with earliest known depictions found in ancient Mayan art from Central America. In modern times, cleft lip and palate remained stigmatized well into the 20th century until advances in pediatric surgery provided safer and more effective repair techniques.
Left untreated Cleft Lip Surgery and palate can cause problems with feeding, speech development, dental alignment, and socialization. Repairing these defects through surgery has been shown to profoundly improve quality of life and allow children to reach their full potential. However, access to such life-changing surgery has remained limited in low and middle-income countries due to lack of trained specialists and resources.
Challenges in Global Cleft Lip Surgery Industry Care
Many parts of the developing world still have few plastic surgeons capable of performing cleft repairs. An estimated 300,000 children are born with unrepaired clefts each year in these resource-poor settings. Without surgery, children face social isolation, malnutrition, and long-term speech and dental problems. Poverty often prevents families from seeking treatment even when available.
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