Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Practice Test

What procedure did the 11-month-old child undergo for her cleft lip and palate?

1. Bilateral lip adhesion

2. Definitive repair

3. Osteophytectomy

4. Tracheostomy

The correct answer is: Definitive repair

The procedure that is most appropriate for an 11-month-old child with a cleft lip and palate is definitive repair. At this age, children typically undergo surgical intervention to correct both the cleft lip and the cleft palate, which is often done in stages. Performing a definitive repair at this age helps to improve feeding, speech development, and overall facial symmetry and appearance. Definitive repair encompasses various techniques targeted at closing the cleft and establishing a functional and aesthetic appearance of the lip and palate, and it is standard practice to complete these repairs during infancy up to the toddler years. This approach sets the foundation for further surgeries if needed later as the child grows, but it is crucial to address these conditions early. In contrast, other procedures such as bilateral lip adhesion may be considered earlier in life but are typically not the definitive solution for established clefts. Osteophytectomy and tracheostomy are unrelated to the primary surgeries needed for cleft lip and palate correction and are not consistent with standard practices in treating this condition.