Introduction to Craniofacial Surgery

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Craniofacial or craniomaxillofacial surgery is a discipline shared by several specialties. It involves techniques developed in the latter half of the 20th century that allow for nearly complete exposure of the cranial and facial skeleton. These techniques are useful for managing tumors, trauma, and congenital craniofacial malformations. Some of these malformations include isolated craniosynostosis, frontonasal dysplasia, and syndromes such as Crouzon, Apert, Saethre-Chotzen, Carpenter, and Pfeiffer. Care for these conditions involves multiple disciplines such as Craniofacial Surgery, Neurosurgery, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Speech and Language Pathology, Orthodontics, Genetics, Ophthalmology, Audiology, Pediatrics, and Social Work among others. Coordinated team care is the best way to manage such patients into adulthood. The surgical techniques that allow movement of the bones of the skull and face are powerful tools affecting tremendous change in the patient's appearance and function. Adequate bony room for brain growth and eye protection is extremely important for the rapidly growing infant. An understanding of the mechanisms of craniofacial growth is critical to the successful management of these complex patients.