Growth status of Saudi patients with cleft lip and palate

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if the type of cleft had any influence on the growth achievement of the affected patients.

METHODS: The height, weight and head circumference of 63 cleft patients attending the Orthodontic clinic at the College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between the year 2000-2001, were compared with each other according to the type of cleft present. In addition, a comparison was made between the height and weight of cleft subjects with that of the normal population.

RESULTS: The most common type of cleft present was unilateral cleft of the lip and palate, followed by bilateral cleft of the lip and palate, and cleft lip. When the height, weight and head circumference of cleft patients was compared, no significant difference could be found between any groups. In addition, no significant difference could be found between height and weight of cleft patients versus that of the normal population.

CONCLUSION: We can conclude from this study, that normal achievement of height, weight and head circumference is to be expected in children with cleft of the lip with or without cleft of the palate.