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cleft lipThese days, it seems like there is a new miracle drug popping up every day. TV watchers most likely have lost count of all the new pills being advertised to them ad nauseum. However, with all these new pills, there also increases the possibility that some could have seriously unwanted, and sometimes even surprise side effects. The Legal Examiner takes a look at one of these cases in a recent article titled “Arkansas Family Says Zofran Caused Son’s Cleft Lip.”

According to Michael Monheit of the Legal Examiner, “After taking Zofran during the first trimester, plaintiff delivered her child, a son, on June 1, 2012. The parents say that he was born with a ‘partial’ cleft lip, a form of orofacial cleft in which the upper lip is split by an opening or ‘cleft.’ Children with complete cleft lip have a cleft that extends upward to affect nasal tissues, while partial clefts do not. The parents note that there is ‘no history of a cleft lip birth defect in [their] family.’ Around three months after his birth, plaintiffs’ son underwent a corrective procedure to repair his cleft lip, according to court documents. His parents say that he ‘suffered a permanent scar from the repair that is often red and inflamed.’ They also note that his upper lip is ‘not symmetrical.’ Due to the sedatives used during his procedure, the child has had developmental delays, parents claim. They write that ‘it took him longer to speak and walk than the average infant, and he has visited a speech therapist, a developmental therapist, and a physical therapist.’ This ‘team’ approach, in which a variety of medical specialists coordinate treatments, is the standard of care for children born with orofacial clefts.”

If your child suffers from cleft lip, there are surgical options available to fix the problem. Of course, you need a surgeon you can rely on.

Rex E. Moulton-Barrett, M.D. is internationally known and acknowledged. He is board certified with The American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and The American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Dr. Moulton-Barrett offers a number of services, including cleft lip repair surgery. In most cases, following surgery, your child will heal and continue to develop normally. However, the specific results will depend, in large part, on how serious the defect was before surgery. There are children who may require additional surgery to repair scarring caused by the cleft lip repair. Also, your child may have speech problems after surgery, which can often be addressed through speech therapy.

If you are considering cleft lip repair surgery, contact us for a consultation.