Congenital differences

Surgical treatment of congenital differences matters for a child's feeding, speech, use of the hand and self-confidence. Treatment is often staged and needs several specialists working together.

When to seek advice

• Cleft lip: the upper lip is split at birth
• Cleft palate: the roof of the mouth is split, so the child cannot suckle and speech is affected
• Syndactyly: joined fingers or toes
• Polydactyly: an extra finger or toe
• Deformity or absence of the outer ear from birth

When surgery is done

The timing is chosen individually according to the child's age, weight and general health. A cleft lip is usually repaired in the first months of life, a cleft palate before speech develops, and joined or extra fingers in early childhood. The plan is made together with a paediatrician, an anaesthetist and, where needed, an orthodontist and a speech therapist.

For parents

• I explain every stage to you in advance
• I show you feeding and wound care in detail
• We keep up planned follow-up visits as the child grows
• These operations are mainly covered by compulsory health insurance