Cleft Lip and Palate: Epidemiology, Aetiology and Treatment.

Cleft lip and palate is a complex, multifactorial and relatively common craniofacial disorder, which arises because of disrupted facial development in the embryo. The manifestations of this condition can be life-long and associated with significant morbidity. In the last decade, progress has been made in our understanding of how clefts of the lip and palate arise in human populations, and laboratory studies are beginning to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that control development of the ...