3375 Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences (SJAMS) ISSN 2320-6691 (Online) Sch. J. App. Med. Sci., 2014; 2(6G):3375-3379 ISSN 2347-954X (Print) ©Scholars Academic and Scientific Publisher (An International Publisher for Academic and Scientific Resources) www.saspublisher.com Research Article A Study on Anatomical Variations in Non-Syndromic Clefts of Lip, Alveolus and Palate Belonging to the Eastern Part of India Prerana Aggarwal 1* , Subhadip Bharati 2 , Biswarup Barejee 3 , Anwesa Pal 4 , Avijit Hazra 5 , Asis Kumar Datta 6 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (IPGME&R), Kolkata-20, West Bengal, India 2 Post Graduate Trainee, Department of Anatomy, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (IPGME&R), Kolkata-20, West Bengal, India 3 Attending Consultant, Department of Neurology, Medica Institute of Neurological Diseases, Kolkata- 99, West Bengal, India 4 Post Graduate Trainee, Department of Anatomy, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (IPGME&R), Kolkata-20, West Bengal, India 5 Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (IPGME&R), Kolkata-20, West Bengal, India 6 Professor, Department of Anatomy, KPCMC & H, Kolkata-32, West Bengal, India *Corresponding author Dr. Prerana Aggarwal Email: dr_prerana@yahoo.com Abstract: Non-syndromic clefts of lip, alveolus and palate (CLAP) are purely physical deformities that are correctable surgically leading to normal facial growth provided the surgery is done in proper time and with the proper knowledge of anatomy of the cleft. This study in Eastern India gives an overview of anatomical variations of CLAP on which the surgical repair of the same depends. 250pediatric cases of non-syndromic CLAP of both sexes were studied over one year duration. They were classified into 3 subgroups namely cleft lip (CL), cleft lip and palate (CLP) and cleft palate alone (CP). The data was tabulated, statistically analyzed; correlation between the different subgroups and with existing datawas drawn.CLP(55.60%) is found to be the commonest type of CLAP deformity in studied population followed by CP(25.60%) and CL(18.80%). 181(72.40%) cases have complete clefts. Overall probability of complete cleft is highest in CLP subgroup followed by CP subgroup i.e. CLP are found to be most severe type of clefts. 149(59%) cases had unilateral clefts. Probability of unilateral clefts is higher in CL and CLP subgroups as compared to CP subgroup. It supports the fact that the etiology of CLP is different from that of CP. The present study findings may help in selecting the proper surgical procedure for correction of clefts that in turn depends upon the subtype, the extent and the laterality of the defect. Keywords: clefts of lip alveolus and palate, cleft lip, cleft lip and palate, isolated cleft palate, complete cleft, incomplete cleft, unilateral clefts, bilateral clefts. INTRODUCTION Birth defects in general and particularly orofacial clefting is relatively common and significant problem for the individual patients born with these defects in terms of death or disability and for their families and society in general in terms of burden of care and health inequality. Despite significant advancement in treatment in high-income countries, problems in access to care and evidence base for cleft care still exist. While in the developing countries the consequences are lack of access to care and lack of infrastructure to help with quantification of the problem and consequently the ability to address it [1]. The Indian sub-continent remains one of the most populous areas of the world with an estimated population of 1.1 billion in India alone with estimated 24.5 million births per year. The birth prevalence of clefts is somewhere between 27,000 and 33,000 clefts per year [2]. According to The Smile Train records, every year nearly 35,000 new cleft patients are born in India alone and around 1 million are present with unrepaired clefts [3]. A CLAP child faces problem with feeding and talking. Other associated problems are ear infections, hearing loss, abnormal facial growth as well as dental and cosmetic abnormalities. Individuals with CLAP have low self-esteem and face difficulties during social interaction.