title: Cleft lip-cleft palate closure: the unknown contributions of Harvey Cushing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of surgical repair of cleft lip-cleft palate closure has been well documented in the literature. However, the contributions of an unlikely pioneer, Harvey Cushing, in the development of cleft lip-cleft palate closure have been to date unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient surgical records from 1896 to 1912 at The Johns Hopkins Hospital documenting Harvey Cushing's cases were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three cases of Cushing's surgical closure of cleft lip-cleft palate, using a variety of techniques, are described and placed into historical context in the development of cleft lip-cleft palate surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Harvey Cushing's contributions to the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery have largely remained unknown. The cases reported here illustrate the early work of this pioneering surgeon in the area of cleft lip-cleft palate surgery.
authors.affiliation: Baltimore, Md. From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institute.
authors.forename: Amir H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Dorafshar
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pendleton
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quinones-Hinojosa
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Redett
mesh_terms: D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000266:history*