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Diagnosis: Craniofacial deformities, or alterations in the natural form of the face or skull, can be congenital or acquired. For those patients born with craniofacial anomalies, the obstetrician or pediatrician is the initial point of contact for appropriate medical treatment. Referrals should be made to a craniofacial center as soon as it is acceptable for the child to be evaluated. Accurate diagnosis at an early age not only avoids unnecessary emotional distress for the parents and family, but it also minimizes potential future problems associated with the deformities by early correction. For those patients with acquired deformities as the result of trauma or tumor resection, referral to a craniofacial center may be desirable to help restore facial function and appearance. Etiology: While the pattern of embryonic craniofacial development has been well defined through extensive research, very little is known about the etiology of many craniofacial anomalies. Some are known to be primarily genetic in nature, while others are thought to be caused by environmental factors. A combination of both environment and genetics may play a role in the etiology; however, most of the time the cause is unknown. Craniofacial Team: The care of craniofacial patients requires the expertise of super-specialized professionals from Return to Top many health care fields. Multidisciplinary teams have been established at regional centers to provide the comprehensive care necessary to adequately evaluate and treat craniofacial patients and their families. No single physician can possess the expertise to evaluate and treat all the abnormalities of these patients. The benefits of the team approach are numerous. Members of the craniofacial team work together to ensure that the patient is evaluated and treated in a coordinated manner and that all of his needs, both physical and psychosocial, are met. The team combines the expertise of each specialist to provide a level of comprehensive care that cannot be provided by a single physician, no matter how reputable. These multidisciplinary craniofacial teams are found at a few major medical centers across the U.S. where the resources are available to provide the safest and most advanced treatment for patients suffering from facial anomalies. Regionalization also ensures that each team has a large enough patient load to maintain the necessary expertise for proper treatment. The more procedures they perform together, the better the team becomes. Consequently, operative time is decreased, complications are minimized, and results are improved.Craniofacial procedures performed on an irregular or occasional basis invite disaster and are not in the best interest of the patient. The craniofacial team is directed by the craniofacial surgeon, a plastic surgeon who has received additional training extensively in craniofacial techniques and whose practice is predominantly dedicated to the treatment of facial anomalies. Return to News, Events & Articles
The Tennessee Craniofacial
Center, part of the Erlanger Health System, is located in Chattanooga,
Tennessee. The Center, led Larry A. Sargent, M.D., specializes in the
evaluation and treatment of patients of all ages with craniofacial deformities.
Location: 975
East Third Street. Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403
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