What are CRANIOFACIAL CLEFTS?
Craniofacial clefts, other than typical cleft lips, are very rare, severe deformities of the face and head that affect both bones and soft tissues.
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SYMPTOMS |
Children with rare craniofacial clefts may have:
- Facial asymmetry (sides of the face don't mirror each other)
- Differences in the base of the skull
- Cleft lip and cleft palate
- Hypoplastic maxilla (unusually small upper jaw)
- Cleft nose or distortion of the nasal skeleton
- Bifid nose
- Orbital hypertelorism (eyes unusually far apart)
- Orbital dystopia (eyes sockets that are uneven)
- Small or underdeveloped eyes
- Clefting into the orbital floor (base of the eye socket and lower eyelid)
- Abnormalities of the eyelids and eyebrows
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TREATMENT & MANAGEMENT |
The surgical treatment of these rare craniofacial clefts varies tremendously from patient to patient. It depends on the severity of the condition and long-term needs of the child. Most often, a staged approach with multiple surgeries is planned. Therefore, consultation with an experienced craniofacial team is extremely important in achieving the best outcomes for your child.