Sw. Guthua et P. Amwayi, ALTERNATIVE TECHNIQUE OF CONSTRUCTING BILATERAL CLEFT-PALATE IN LATE CHILDHOOD - A CASE-REPORT AND LITERATURE-REVIEW, East African medical journal, 71(10), 1994, pp. 687-692
Although great advances in treatment of oro-facial clefts have been ma
de over the past 50 years; in developing countries, due to social stig
mas and unavailability of specialised medical facilities and personnel
to the majority of the population, there is an increasing incidence o
f patients coming late for repair of oro-facial clefts. This presents
a challenge to both plastic, oral surgeons and associated specialists.
The aim of the present article is to demonstrate, in the form of a ca
se report, an alternative surgical technique that has be successful in
8 cases for the late repair of severe bitateral cleft palate utilizin
g locally available and affordable materials. The objective of managin
g patients with cleft palate in developing countries is to provide the
best repair and rehabilitation with as few operations and in-patient
care as possible due to limited financial resources experienced by the
majority of in-patients. A mutlidisciplinary approach to the manageme
nt of oro-facial clefts is emphasised.