Streamlining treatment of neonatal cleft lip, palate
A novel medical device could reduce the number of surgeries in infants with cleft lip and cleft palate.
Infants with a congenital cleft/palate deformity often require several surgical procedures to correct the cleft and may experience challenges with feeding and weight gain, according to a news article from KFOR.
The news report highlighted a case from Oklahoma where a severe bilateral cleft lip deformity was detected in utero during a routine obstetric ultrasound. After birth, the infant was treated with a custom nasoalveolar molding prosthetic mouthpiece. The tool requires weekly adjustments to help push the cleft together and can improve a range of quality of life and surgical outcomes — including feeding habits, weight gain, breathing, reflux management and nasal outcomes. Use of the device may also help reduce the number of surgeries needed to manage the condition.
After treatment with the nasoalveolar molding device, the infant was able to skip one surgery within the first year of life. Although the tool isn’t covered by insurance or Medicaid — requiring patients to cover costs up to $10,000 — experts suggested that the nasoalveolar molding device could help lower costs long term.
Read more: KFOR
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