Craniofacial developmental concepts in dynamic osteotomies and the Nautilus technique: A procedure created in Brazil for the treatment of craniosynostosis.

Craniofacial development is the major focus of attention in surgical treatments for craniosynostosis. Growth rate, size, shape, and proportion of soft tissue and bone structures of the skull and face are determinant factors in the establishment of the vital functions of swallowing and breathing, as well as in the aesthetic balance of facial features, so important for the patient's psychological identity. This manuscript revisits the concept of craniosynostosis and reviews the major biological and anatomical factors that come into play in the developmental process of craniofacial structures, especially during infancy and early childhood.