Craniofacial Surgery

Edward P. Buchanan, M.D.

Successful treatment of children with craniofacial problems is a complex task requiring the coordination of many members of a multidisciplinary team. Treatment goals should not only be thought of in terms of the patients underlying condition, but also in how interventions may change or impact future growth. Furthermore, care should be provided in a family-centered environment so that parents and family members become an active part of the team and are involved in treatment decisions.

The role for the plastic surgeon in treatment of these patients requires great clinical acumen and technical skill to achieve the desired reconstructive results. Every surgical intervention needs to be carefully planned with a mind toward future surgery and development. Many of these problems require complex surgical procedures. Although the goal for each surgical team is the same, the restoration of form and function, the individual approaches may differ.

Thanks to the hard work of many individuals at craniofacial centers throughout the United States, we have been able to put together a series of articles in this issue of Seminars in Plastic Surgery that thoughtfully discuss a few of the commonly treated conditions in craniofacial surgery. Each surgeon's approach to these problems is addressed, providing readers with a framework to not only learn about these conditions, but also to understand the rationale for treatment decisions.

We would like to thank the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Larry Hollier, for providing us with the opportunity to contribute to this journal and to the craniofacial medical literature. In addition, we would like to thank Ms. Lydia Bebczuk for her tireless work in getting these manuscripts to the publisher. Thieme has been gracious for allowing us to get this information to medical professionals who will be able to use it to successfully treat their patients.