Early surgery key to preventing lifelong impact of cleft conditions

Stressing the importance of timely medical intervention, dental specialist and maxillofacial surgeon Dr Y.S.N. Reddy on Saturday said cleft lip and palate, though present from birth, can be effectively corrected if treated early, helping children lead normal and confident lives.

Speaking to the media, Dr Reddy said early surgical correction enables children to eat and speak normally, while delayed treatment often results in social stigma, embarrassment and emotional distress. He noted that cleft lip and palate are congenital conditions and require focused attention during early childhood.

Dr Reddy said KIMS Icon Hospital at Sheela Nagar has successfully completed over 3,000 cleft lip and palate surgeries since 2004. Patients treated at the hospital have ranged in age from 15-day-old infants to 66-year-old adults. However, he emphasised that surgeries performed at a younger age significantly reduce feelings of inferiority and help boost self-confidence.

He expressed gratitude to Doshi Smiles doctors Dr Nitin Doshi and Dr Leena Doshi from the United States, the INGA Foundation, KIMS Icon Hospital Managing Director Dr Satish Kumar and Executive Director Dr Sai Balaram for their continued support. The surgeries were carried out free of cost for underprivileged patients, with the hospital also providing transportation from their homes to the hospital and back.

INGA Foundation Managing Trustee and Medical Director Dr Krishna Shyamarao, trustee Dr Chetan Kumar, Association of Maxillofacial Surgeons of India president Dr R. Manikandan, AOMSI Andhra Pradesh chapter president Dr P. Vasundhar, KIMS Icon Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Gopal Raju and Operations General Manager Mamata Devi Reddy were present.