The impact of a single surgical intervention for patients with a cleft lip living in rural Ethiopia

Summary Background Humanitarian organisations commonly provide reconstructive treatment for patients with cleft lip within developing countries, but follow-up is often non-existent, particularly for those living in rural areas. This study aimed to assess whether a single surgical intervention was su...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery reconstructive & aesthetic surgery, 2014-09, Vol.67 (9), p.1194-1200
Main Authors: Fell, Matthew J, Hoyle, Tom, Abebe, Mekonen E, Kebede, Yegeremu, Medhin, Yohannes D, Hiwot, Fikre A, Cifeta, Taye H, Ali, Ibrahim M, McGurk, Mark
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Child
Child, Preschool
Cleft lip
Cleft Lip - surgery
Dermatologic Surgical Procedures - methods
Developing countries
Ethiopia
Ethiopia - epidemiology
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infant
Male
Outcome
Photography
Plastic Surgery
Post-operative follow-up
Postoperative Complications - epidemiology
Rural Health Services
Rural outreach
Rural Population
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Summary Background Humanitarian organisations commonly provide reconstructive treatment for patients with cleft lip within developing countries, but follow-up is often non-existent, particularly for those living in rural areas. This study aimed to assess whether a single surgical intervention was sufficient to produce an observable change to the life of a patient with cleft lip living in rural Hararghe in eastern Ethiopia. Methods 356 patients with isolated cleft lips, who received a single surgical treatment at least 6 months previously, were evaluated in 21 rural health centres. Results Patients and their families expressed unhappiness before treatment, mainly because the society reacted negatively towards the deformities, isolating the patients from community activities. Postoperatively, the percentage of school-aged children participating in education increased from 46% to 79%, some older patients were able to marry, but employment was unaffected. The prevalence of wound dehiscence in the lip repair was 3% and occurred more frequently in patients with a bilateral cleft lip compared to a unilateral cleft lip ( p  
ISSN:1748-6815
1878-0539
DOI:10.1016/j.bjps.2014.05.019