The Influence of Genetic Syndromes on the Algorithm of Cleft Lip and Palate Repair – A Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine if the treatment algorithm used for nonsyndromic cleft patients required alteration to manage syndromic cleft lip and/or palate patients. METHODS: The records of patients managed by the Pécs Cleft Team between January 1999 and December 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. The sources of the data included clinical and genetic records. RESULTS: A total of 607 patients were managed by the cleft team during the study. Sixteen patients (2.6%) were noted to be afflicted with a particular identifiable syndrome. Seven different genetic syndromes and one sequence were present in the study. The Pierre Robin sequence occurred most often, comprising 50% of the cohort. The treatment algorithm used in managing nonsyndromic clefts required modification in 13 of the 16 syndromic patients. DISCUSSION: The presence of a genetic syndrome may notably affect the treatment algorithm in children born with cleft lip and/or palate. The surgical treatment of certain associated anomalies has by necessity, priority over the timing of the reconstruction of the cleft lip and/or cleft palate in syndromic patients.