CLASSIFICATION OF CRANIOFACIAL ABNORMALITIES

CLASSIFICATION OF CRANIOFACIAL ABNORMALITIES

• van der Meulen and his colleagues proposed a classification system that has significant utility in helping to understand the variety and complexity of craniofacial malformations. This classification considers the embryological development of the - craniofacial region. First, in terms of the formation and fusion of the processes (branchial arches): the failure of the fusion

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the failure of fusion between the frontonasal process and the maxillary process results in a cleft lip, either unilaterally or bilaterally . Second, in the formation of bone and cartilage; if this is abnormal it is termed dysostosis or dyschondrosis. Third, the formation and growth at the sutures between the various bones of the craniofacial skeleton: premature fusion leads to synostosis. Superimposed on this concept is the consideration of the development of the central nervous system; this leads to a number of types of abnormality , as outlined in Table 50.1 In addition, and in common with all classification systems, there is another large group of conditions that do not sit within the system outlined above and also listed in Table 50.1