Long-term results after 40 years experience with treatment of rare facial clefts: Part 1--Oblique and paramedian clefts.

Background: Oblique and paramedian rare facial clefts impose a major reconstructive challenge and long-term assessments of the outcomes remain scarce. This study provides new details regarding surgical techniques and timing, influence of growth, and difficulties of this pathology on the long-term; a guideline for surgical treatment is given.

Methods: Twenty-nine adults with an oblique or paramedian facial cleft and surgically treated in the authors' unit between 1969 and 2009, were included.

Long-term results after 40 years experience with treatment of rare facial clefts: Part 2--Symmetrical median clefts.

Background: Median facial clefts are reconstructive challenges, requiring multiple operations throughout life. Long-term results are often still far from ideal and could be improved. Due to surgical intervention and diminished intrinsic growth potential, surgical results may change from initially good into a progressively disappointing outcome.

Long-term functional outcome in 167 patients with syndromic craniosynostosis; defining a syndrome-specific risk profile.

Objective: Little is known about the long-term prevalence of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), level of education, language and motor skills, impaired sight and hearing in craniosynostosis syndromes. The objective of this study was to define the prevalence per syndrome of elevated ICP, OSA, impaired sight and impaired hearing.

Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken on 167 consecutive patients diagnosed with Apert, Crouzon, Pfeiffer, Muenke or Saethre-Chotzen syndrome, aged 1-25 years and treated between 1983 and 2008.

Effect of infant orthopedics on facial appearance of toddlers with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (Dutchcleft).

Objective: To evaluate the effect of infant orthopedics (IO) on facial appearance of 54 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), aged 4 and 6 years.

Design: Prospective two-arm randomized controlled clinical trial in three Cleft Palate Centers in the Netherlands (Dutchcleft-trial).

Interventions: Patients were divided randomly into two groups.

The frontosphenoidal suture: fetal development and phenotype of its synostosis.

Background: Isolated synostosis of the frontosphenoidal suture is very rare and difficult to diagnose. Little has been reported on the clinical presentation and fetal development of this suture.

Objective: To understand the development of the frontosphenoidal suture and the outcome of its synostosis.