CHRISTUS Children’s recognizes National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month in July

July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month and CHRISTUS Children’s is offering insight on of the most common birth differences in the U.S.

One of every 700 newborns is affected by cleft lip and/or cleft palate, according to the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA). A cleft lip is an opening in the upper lip and can range in size. A cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth and can affect the soft and/or hard palate.

“Currently there is no known cause for many cases of cleft,” said Dr. Alejandra Garcia de Mitchell, pediatric plastic craniofacial surgeon with CHRISTUS Children’s.

She said CHRISTUS Children’s is certified by ACPA for both cleft palate and craniofacial expertise.

“I’m extremely proud of our cleft and craniofacial program here at CHRISTUS Children’s,” said Cris Daskevich, chief executive officer for CHRISTUS Children’s. “The experience and expertise of our clinical team is unparalleled in San Antonio and south Texas. It allows families to stay close to home for highly specialized, multidisciplinary care for clef and craniofacial conditions that often require years of follow up care and treatment.”

Oftentimes a cleft or craniofacial difference can be spotted during an expecting mother’s 20-week anatomy scan.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the most common craniofacial differences include:

• Orofacial clefts
• Craniosynostosis: the bones in an infant’s skull joined together too early affecting brain growth
• Anotia: absence of the external ear
• Microtia: incompletely formed external ear

“We have a multidisciplinary approach,” Garcia de Mitchell said. “Due to the complexity of some of these cases, we work as a team of pediatric subspecialities to evaluate each patient and determine an individualized treatment plan for them.”

Children affected by cleft or craniofacial differences can undergo several surgeries throughout their lifetime.

A cleft lip is usually repaired when the child is around 3- to 6-months-old, while a cleft palate is repaired before a child’s 1st birthday.

“Each patient’s journey can look very different,” Garcia de Mitchell said. “It depends on a variety of factors. But no matter the circumstances, we always strive for optimal results.”

CHRISTUS Children’s Craniofacial and Cleft Palate Clinic treats children of all ages with a wide range of conditions and complex syndromes.

To learn more visit CHRISTUS Children’s Craniofacial and Cleft Palate Clinic.