Orofacial clefts are relatively frequent inborn developmental defects. The objective of our study was to reveal the actual frequency of orofacial clefts in western Slovakia. From 390 404 liveborn children in Bratislava and the western Slovakian region in 1985–1999, 629 children with orofacial clefts were operated at a specialized department – the Clinic of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery of the Medical Faculty, Comenius University Bratislava. The authors assessed the total incidence of orofacial clefts fromthe records of the above department and reported data.For statistical evaluation of differences they used the χ2 test. The total incidence during the years of investigation in western Slovakia was 1.611/103 liveborn children whereby in Bratislava town the incidence was higher than in the western Slovakian region. Between individual districts these values had a wide range from 1.20–2.04/103 liveborn infants. As regards different types, the authors found the highest incidence of orofacial clefts of the primary and secondary palate. The frequency in males was significantly higher. As regards the risk of possible birth of an infant with this congenital developmental defect in western Slovakia, the authors found a discrepancy between data on their records – 1 child/620 liveborn infants, and notified cases – 1 child/756 liveborn children.

        Key words: orofacial clefts – total incidence.