Genetics of cleft lip and palate.

Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/CP) is one of the most common structural birth defects, with treatment including multiple surgeries, speech therapy, and dental and orthodontic treatments over the first 18 years of life. As a result of the treatment interventions, pediatric nurses may be required to care for these children beginning in infancy through adolescence. Providing care for these patients and families can include educating patients and parents about the genetics of CL/CP, as well as meeting their immediate medical needs. A basic overview of normal lip and palate development, classification of clefts, pathophysiology of CL/CP, incidence, inheritance, genetic and environmental causes, genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis, fetal surgery, and nursing implications is provided to educate pediatric nurses about the basics of the genetics of CL/CP.