title: [The diagnoses and classifying of congenital craniofacial cleft].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To diagnose and classify the congenital craniofacial cleft with a uniform scale is helpful to evaluate the abnormality and select the repairing methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 81 cases of congenital craniofacial cleft basically using Tessier craniofacial cleft classification. Furthermore, according to the position of soft tissue or bone, the character and degree of clefts or dysplasia and the results of CT scanning, we subdivided the congenital deformities based on S (skin), T (tissue), and O (OS). Arabic numerals were used to express the degree of the abnormality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all the cases analyzed with the STO classification, No. III and IV clefts are often seen in the infraorbital region (24.70%). No. IX and X clefts are mostly seen in the supraorbital region (38.27%). The relationship between the cleft types and involved tissue has not been found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The STO classification reinforces Tessier classification. It offers the basis for craniofacial cleft repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital of Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Qun
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Xiong-Zheng
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Ru-Hong
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Zhe-Yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult