Children with craniofacial conditions may suffer from disfigurement caused by birth defect, trauma or disease. There are many kinds of craniofacial disorders, and some of the more common types are described below. Craniosynostosis results from a premature fusion, or joining together, of some of the bones of the skull and face. This fusion does not let the bones grow normally, which affects the shape of the skull. This disorder may cause increased pressure on the brain if it goes undetected and untreated.
Hemangioma is a tumor of blood vessels that occurs in varying severity.
Children with severe conditions may develop a tendency to blister and bleed. Oculoauriculo Vertebral Spectrum may involve problems with the eyes, ears and spine. This craniofacial anomaly may be associated with cleft lip, cleft palate or abnormalities of the spine. Goldenhar Syndrome is a variation of Hemifacial Microsomia that involves eye problems. This condition occurs when the lower jaw fails to develop, which prevents the tongue from descending into the oral cavity and keeps the palate from closing completely, resulting in a cleft palate.