Cleft lip-palate team specialists have received training from different perspectives in the diagnosis, treatment and recovery of the patient. The Craniomaxillofacial Cleft Center includes a variety of healthcare professionals; because there is a need for specialist to approach problems from different angles. Different surgical-orthodontic-speech treatments may be required in the later stages of individuals with cleft lip and palate. Distraction and / or surgeries may be required at the maxilla and mandible later. Our experts working in this field also make meetings and treatment plans every week in cooperation with orthodontics. Treatment of congenital disorders such as, Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS), craniofacial clefts and hypertelorism, neurofibromatosis, Treacher Collins Syndrome require another specialty. Our team of experts working in this field also organizes joint meetings and surgeries with neurosurgery.
Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS)
It is a clinical feature characterized by smallness in the jaw, positioning the tongue back to the airway and obstruction of the airway. PRS is usually accompanied by cleft palate. This clinical picture is included in many syndromes.
In these patients; In addition to breathing difficulties, swallowing problems, low oral intake, feeding time longer than 30 minutes, fatigue, cough, vomiting, bronchial aspiration, pause / delay in development and growth are observed.
The treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach and treatment begins with airway evaluation. The aim is to provide a safe airway. Among the treatments that can be applied are; pron positioning, oxygen therapy, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), intubation, tongue lip adhesion, tracheostomy, and mandibular distraction osteogenesis.
Treacher Collins Syndrome
Treacher Collins Syndrome (TCS) is congenital development disorder characterized by developmental retardation in the cheekbone, lower and upper jaw, anomalies around the eyes, cleft palate, hearing loss.
Obstetric ultrasonography can help in diagnosis due to the characteristic facial features of the syndrome. Prenatal diagnosis will help inform the family before birth and prepare them psychologically.
In the treatment of children born with this syndrome, multidisciplinary teamwork is required due to its many anomalies and complexity. In addition to the craniofacial plastic surgeon; ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist, speech pathologist, audiologist, orthodontist, genetic diseases specialist, pediatricians should be on the team. Patient and family counseling is key because these patients will undergo many surgical interventions starting from childhood to adulthood.
Orthognathic surgery
For a healthy mouth structure and bite, interventions to the lower and upper jaw bones, and the advancement and regression of the lower and upper jaw bones are called orthognathic surgery.
With the support of the orthodontics department before and after this surgical treatment, the positions of the teeth are individually shaped and the treatment is completed.
Cleft Lip-Nose Deformity (CLN)
The cleft lip nose deformity is present in all cleft lip forms whether or not accompanied by cleft palate. The degree of nasal deformity parallels the severity of the cleft lip. Even on the minimicroform cleft lip, there is a nose abnormality that becomes more evident over time. Nasal deformity is worse when there is alveolar and cleft palate.
After the facial development of the patient is completed (usually around the age of 18), cleft rhinoplasty is performed. The applied rhinoplasty should be featured and accompanying maxillary regression and alveolar cleft should be considered.
