Congenital Palatal Ulcers in Newborn Infants with Cleft Lip and Palate: Diagnosis, Frequency, and Significance

Congenital decubital ulcers were found in 94% of newborn infants with unilateral cleft lip and palate in the course of a systematic study of a large cohort study (N = 52). The procedures for diagnosis, documentation, and follow-up are described. The ulceration area at birth varied over a wide range. The ulcerations were usually located in the posterior part of the vomer. Sonographic evidence supports the hypothesis that the ulcerations are caused mechanically by the motor activity of the tongue during the fetal and newborn period. The decubital ulcer disappeared in each case within 5 days following the implementation of a palatal plate.