Which statement is NOT accurate regarding planning for cleft lip and palate repair?

• A. All repair is completed by infancy with a single surgery.
• B. The repair is typically done in two stages.
• C. The patient may require additional surgeries as they grow.
• D. The timing depends on growth progress.

Answer: (A)

Planning for cleft lip and palate repair is about coordinating procedures with the child’s growth and development to restore function (speech, feeding, hearing) and appearance. The statement that all repair is completed by infancy with a single surgery isn’t accurate because most plans are staged. The lip is usually repaired in early infancy, but palate repair is typically done later, and many children need two or more procedures to address both lip and palate function and growth concerns. As the child grows, additional surgeries may be needed for speech improvement, nasal shape, or dental/alveolar alignment. The exact timing depends on growth progress, overall health, and multidisciplinary team input, balancing the goals of optimizing function now while preserving facial growth for the future.