Introduction

The aim of the study is to show the frequency and characteristics of newborns with cleft lip (CL), cleft palate (CP), and cleft lip and palate (CLP) and their mothers at our clinical center over a 17-year period.

Material and methods

A retrospective study was conducted in the period from January 2009 to December 2025 at the Department of Neonatology and the Department of Intensive Care for Children (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) the Cli- nic for Children’s Diseases of the University Clinical Hospital in Mostar. The study included 51 newborns and their mothers who were diagnosed with one of the orofacial clefts (CL, CP (hard and soft palate) and CLP) during pregnancy or after birth.

Results

Of the 29,544 infants born at the University Clinical Hospital in Mostar between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2025, 51 newborns (0.17%) were treated for congenital orofacial clefts (CL, CP, CLP). In the last eight years of the study, 68.6% (35/51) of cases of CL, CP and CLP in newborns were recorded which is significantly higher than in the previous 9 years when 31.4% (16/51) of such newborns were recorded (p = 0.008). The results indicate a significant dominance of CL and hard and soft palate (22) and (17) cleft soft palate (p = 0.002), 39/51 newborns. In 24 of 51 newborns (47.1%), an orofacial cleft was detected during pregnancy. Isolated congenital orofacial clefts without other pathological conditions were present in 20 newborns, while 31 of them also had other pathological conditions and/or congenital anomalies of other organ systems (p = 0.123).

Conclusions

During the 17-year study, the incidence of oral cavity malformations (CL, CP, CLP) in newborns was low compared to the number of births at our clinical center. Nevertheless, we must not forget the importance of screening, diagnosing and monitoring pregnant women with such malformations in their newborns for better neonatal care and favorable treatment outcomes.