Epidemiology, outcomes and challenges of cleft palate surgeries in Port Harcourt: a 10-year retrospective study

Background: Cleft palate is a significant congenital condition affecting feeding, speech, hearing, and psychosocial development. In low-resource settings like Nigeria, limited access to specialized care often results in delayed treatment and poor outcomes. Aim: To investigate the epidemiology, outcomes and challenges of cleft palate surgeries in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective study of patients who underwent cleft palate repair from January 2015 to December 2024 at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt. Data were obtained from the Smile Train Express database and included demographics, age at presentation, cleft type, associated anomalies, surgical techniques, and complications. Analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 20. Results: The mean age at surgery was 2.5 years (range: 6 months–25 years) with slight male preponderance. Majority underwent surgery between the ages of 9 months and 3 years. Unilateral cleft palate was present in 70% of cases; bilateral in 30%. Associated anomalies, primarily cardiac and auditory, were noted in 20%. Primary repair was performed in 80%, predominantly using the von Langenbeck technique. The overall complication rate was 15%, with wound infections (8%) being most common, followed by fistula formation (4%) and respiratory complications (3%). Conclusion: There is a slight male preponderance among those who had surgery for cleft palate. There were more unilateral cleft palates than bilateral cleft palates. Associated anomalies were identified in one-fifth of the patients. Primary cleft palate repair was the most frequently performed procedure using the von Langenbeck technique. The most common complication was wound dehiscence.