Cleft Palate and Congenital Alveolar Synechiae Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review

Cleft palate and congenital alveolar synechia is a rare syndrome. Only eight cases have been previously reported. It consists of a spectrum of facial anomalies always including cleft palate and congenital alveolar synechiae without other abnormalities. This report described an unusual case of congenital alveolar synechial band spanning posterior alveolar of the two jaws with cleft palate. Previously reported cases showed bilaterally or anteriorly located fibrous band. In our department, a new born revealed unilateral posterior synechia. Under brief intravenous sedation, synechium was divided using bipolar diathermy in the nursery at 3 days of age because of poor feeding. This division allowed full jaw opening after brief passive exercise. The patient is growing and maturing as expected with no complications. This patient is supposed to be the first reported case of isolated unilateral alveolar synechium combined with cleft palate in the worldwide.