Clinical Statistical Observations on Primary Cleft Lip and Palate for 40 Years in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kagoshima University Hospital

This study analyzed 1,446 patients with primary cleft lip and palate, or both, who visited our specialized outpatient department during the 40-year period since 1981. The results were as follows. <br>1. Among patients attending the outpatient department, 1,446 primary cases of cleft lip and/or palate were identified. <br>2. Of the 1,446 patients, 483 had cleft lip （33.4％）, 551 had cleft lip and palate （38.1％）, and 412 had cleft palate （28.5％）. <br>3. There were 748 males and 698 females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.07：1. <br>4. Between the ages of 0 and 20 years, the most common age of the first visit to the outpatient department was less than 1 month old, with 939 patients （65.0％）. <br>5. The average birth weight of patients was 2,936.2g and there were 527 （37.0％） patients in the 2,500–2,999g range, the highest percentage. <br>6. A total of 1,130 patients （78.2％） were living in Kagoshima Prefecture, and 316 patients （21.8％） were living in another prefecture. <br>7. Patients were most frequently introduced by obstetricians, followed by pediatricians, and perinatal and maternity centers. <br>8. A total of 134 patients （9.3％） had a congenital anomaly. <br>9. The number of visits for prenatal counseling, which started in 2006, totaled 276, and has increased since 2011. Prenatal counseling was provided to reduce the emotional burden on the family. <br>10. Cleft lip and cleft palate was the most common cleft type in the survey period. The proportion of male patients was greater than that of female patients in periods Ⅰ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ. The proportion of female patients was higher than that of male patients in period Ⅱ. In period Ⅰ, less than 50％ of patients visited our specialized outpatient department for the first time before 1 month old. <br>In periods Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ, about 70％ of the patients visited the outpatient department before 1 month old. The percentage of low birthweight infants weighing less than 2,500g was 10.4％ in period Ⅰ, 16.8％ in period Ⅱ, 21.4％ in period Ⅲ, and 12.4％ in period Ⅳ. In recent years, patients have increasingly been introduced by pediatricians, and perinatal and maternity centers. The rate of congenital anomaly complications in cleft palate was higher than in other cleft types.