[Fifty years of plastic surgery in the Netherlands. IV. Treatment of children with cleft lip and palate].

During the last decades treatment of patients with cleft lip and palate exchanged a solitary for a multidisciplinary approach. This warrants a balanced development of cranio-maxillofacial growth yielding good results both in restoring facial contour and correcting functional defects. Nowadays, refinements in indications for treatment and in techniques, based upon scientific evidence are the goals. In the future more basic studies in the genetical and ecological field may provide tools for patient tailored counselling and effective prevention.