Cranio-Maxillo Facial Surgery

Cranio-Maxillo Facial Surgery

Cranio-Maxillo Facial surgery is a surgery to treat various diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral (mouth) and maxillofacial (jaws and face) region. It is an internationally recognized surgical specialty.

One of the India's first and leading craniofacial centres, Narayana Health attracts patients from around the country to treat craniosynostosis (early fusion of skull sutures), rare facial clefts and various syndromic conditions affecting the face such as Crouzon Syndrome, Apert's Syndrome, Treacher Collins Syndrome, Pierre Robin Syndrome, Hemifacial Microsomia and many others.

The multidisciplinary Craniofacial team consists of Craniofacial Surgeons, Neurosurgeons, Orthodontist, Pediatric Neurologist, Speech Pathologist and Geneticist. Most patients with craniofacial deformities can be diagnosed at a very young age and if treated very early the outcomes are better.

It is performed to repair, rebuild and restore abnormalities caused by birth or due to other diseases or injuries. Depending on the cause of the anomalies or injury the diagnosis and type of surgery can differ. Craniofacial abnormalities in children are mostly diagnosed by the obstetrician or the paediatrician post-delivery.

Certain genetic disorders are diagnosed before birth with the help of chromosomal analysis. These congenital conditions mostly include down syndrome and Treacher Collins syndrome. A cranio-maxillo facial surgeon often works closely with other neurosurgeons and ophthalmologists for effective and most suitable treatment and care.

Some of the commonly observed congenital anomalies are cleft lip and palate, hemangioma, craniosynostosis among the others.

Tests suggested for diagnosis and assessment are:

- X-ray

- CT Scans

- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Tests suggested for diagnosis and assessment are:

- Bleeding

- Breathing problems

- Infection

- Reaction to the anaesthesia

- Nerve Damage

- Bone graft failure

Most surgeries have certain risk factors that can have an impact on the reconstruction or restorative surgery performed. These can include:

- Poor immune system

- Radiation therapy damages

- Poor blood circulation

- Excessive smoking

- Infections like HIV

- Tissue diseases like Lupus or scleroderma

Weak nutrition

Orthognathic and Orthomorphic Surgery

Orthognathic Surgery is the surgical correction of the anomalies of the upper and lower jaws due to abnormal form, growth and relationships. Some jaw anomalies can also be caused by tempro-mandibular joint disorders, which involves a combination of orthodontic treatment with braces and surgical correction of a complete lasting correction of the deformity.

Treatment planning is done using advanced orthognathic treatment planning software platform from Dolphin Imagine where the patient can view his or her final facial appearance even before the treatment starts.

Orthomorphic Surgery is a one-stage surgical procedure for correction of mandibular deformities. The ingenious procedure was first described by Prof. Paul C Salins, Chief of Craniofacial services at NH Health City, Bangalore.

Traumatic Facial Deformity Correction

Trauma or injuries to the head and face due to accidents or fights are the single largest cause of death worldwide. Those who manage to survive death due to trauma can end up with a gross facial deformity and suffer from social stigma. Most people are unaware that such deformities can be corrected using techniques from reconstructive as well as cosmetic surgery. At NH, we also perform endoscope assisted minimally invasive surgery and navigation surgery to correct traumatic facial deformities.

Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis And Disorders

Temporomandibular joint or the jaw joints have a very important role in the face. It is the only moving joint in the face and like the heart, the joints are constantly functioning throughout our lifetime. Without the jaw joints it would be impossible to talk or eat, therefore injuries to the jaw joint can lead to difficulty in talking and also eating. This can be caused either due to excessive wear and tear of direct injury to the joint, leading to a wide spectrum of disorders from ankylosis (fused jaw joints) to internal derangement of the joint. Ankylosis can also lead to significant facial deformity when untreated. Most patients do not seek treatment and go through great suffering and pain unnecessarily. TMJ disorders can be managed and corrected by medications, therapies and surgical procedures.

Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery

About 1 out of every 750 babies born each year is born with a cleft deformity. These deformities vary from a simple one-sided, incomplete cleft of the lip alone to a complete cleft of the lip, bone and the roof of the mouth (the palate) on both sides of the face. Some facial cleft deformities can also involve the face. Like all other congenital anomalies, initial correction of cleft deformities is best done within a few days after birth. This helps the baby to feel better and provides better aesthetics. The comprehensive management of cleft deformities requires several staged correction and requires interventions by various clinical specialties at different intervals. By following the standardized international protocols, the cleft team delivers cleft care at par with internationally reputed centres.

Cysts and Tumours of the Face

The head and neck region can become a victim to numerous cysts and tumors. These lesions can range from small to very large sized lesions that can cause gross facial deformities. Tumors can also be either benign or malignant in nature. Fortunately, most of these lesions are well recognized and treatment protocols have been established.

Dental Implants and More

Narayana Health uses the most recent advances in dental implant technology. A dental implant is a device usually made of titanium, which resembles the tooth root. It is used to support the tooth restoration. The implant is placed in the jaw following a minor surgery in place of a missing tooth. The surgical wound is allowed to heal for 3 months during which period, the implant fuses with the bone. A prosthetic tooth or a bridge is fabricated over the implant. This procedure provides the most aesthetic result and close resemblance to the natural teeth in appearance and function. Most patients experience minimal disruption in their daily life.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Snoring or Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS), is a potentially serious condition where an individual experiences phases of airway obstruction during sleep momentarily cutting off the oxygen supply to the body. This can have long-term effects on the body, increasing the chances of developing cardiovascular disorders, high blood pressure, stroke and obesity. At NH, we have a dedicated team experienced in the diagnosis and surgical management of OSAS. We also possess a state-of-the-art sleep clinic where polysomnography test is done to accurately diagnose the condition.

Cosmetic Surgery

We also perform an array of cosmetic and facial rejuvenation surgeries involving minor procedures like Botox, fillers, scar revision and major procedures like facial sculpting, fat grafting, facelift surgeries, facial implants. The quality of care complies with international standards.

Maxillo-Facial Prosthetics

Major injuries and cancer surgeries of the head and neck may result in extensive defects in the face, which can be cosmetically as well as functionally bothersome to the patients. Post-injury or post-resection defects of the face can be corrected using artificial substances which mimic facial hard and soft tissues. Lost ear, eye, and nose can be substituted using mimicking materials which resemble normal structures.