2021 Volume 62 Issue 1 Pages 14-23
The treatment of cleft lip and palate from the prenatal period to adulthood is a prime example of team medical treatment involving a large variety of multidisciplinary staff. At the Cleft Lip and Palate Center in Hiroshima City Hiroshima Citizens Hospital, the author, who is a surgeon, serves as the coordinator and leads coordination with the staff. There is close collaboration with staff members performing preoperative orthognathic treatment, velopharyngeal insufficiency treatment using PLP, and orthodontic treatment before graft treatment for alveolar cleft, after which the timing and indications for surgery are determined. The ability to provide high-quality treatment is considered feasible when each staff member has an understanding of the others' specialties, freely expresses and debates their views, and recognizes a common goal.
