4th of April 2015, European University Cyprus

Individuals with Craniofacial anomalies and clefts can smile to life! This is the sacred purpose of the dedicated TEAM of the Cyprus Center for Cleft and Facial Deformities MEDICLEFT.

The 2nd Pancyprian Conference “Craniofacial Anomalies and clefts – new data” took place on Saturday 4th of April from 14:00 to 20:00, with special scientific and organizational success. The Conference took place at the Cultural Centre of the European University of Cyprus and over 250 delegates have attended. It  was co-organised by the Speech Therapy Program of the European University of Cyprus and the Cyprus Center for Cleft and Facial Deformities MEDICLEFT. The opening of the Conference was launched by Mrs. Irene Hadjicharalambous, Senior Medical Officer, who represented the Ministry of Health, under the auspices of which the Conference was organized. Distinguished speakers covered topics related to Clefts and Craniofacial deformities, introducing new data relating to their diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Eric Arnaud, Craniofacial Plastic Surgeon presented information about cranial surgeries in individuals with Craniofacial deformities and stressed the importance of prompt surgical intervention in order to avoid problems of mental development in the future.

Maria Kyriacou Solomonidou, Speech-Language Pathologist, Member of the Cyprus Center for Clefts and Facial Deformities MEDICLEFT, referred to the importance of the contribution of the Speech-Language Pathologist, in the team dealing with clefts and especially the collaboration with the plastic surgeon in cases that require cranioplasty. As she said, the correct and timely intervention will help children with cleft avoid problems with speech.

Dr. Fyras Khalil, Otolaryngologist, Member of the Cyprus Center for Clefts and Facial Deformities MEDICLEFT, stressed the importance of preventive examinations by the otolaryngologist of the team, so that the children can grow without hearing difficulties, as the hearing is directly correlated with the development of  their speech.

Dr. Yannis Kallikas, Gynecologist, referred to the important role of the prenatal diagnosis of cleft, through ultrasound, for complete and correct information but also for the preparation of parents.

Dr. George Psaras, Craniofacial Plastic Surgeon, Member of the Cyprus Center for Clefts and Facial Deformities MEDICLEFT, presented the surgical recovery stages of cleft while he stressed the necessity of dealing with it from the very first day of life. He also presented the procedure of facial nerve paralysis treatment with transplantation of muscle from the thigh.

Dr. Costas Alexandrou, Craniofacial Plastic Surgeon, Director of the Hellenic Craniofacial Centre, stressed in his speech the importance of the role of the pediatrician in the early diagnosis of craniofacial deformities. He presented cases requiring surgery while he referred to incidents that are treated by physiotherapy as mild and moderate positional plagiocephaly (PP).

Dr. Kanaris Panagopoulos, Neurosurgeon, Member of the Hellenic Craniofacial Centre, presented the right timing and the process of dealing with craniosynostosis.  Early treatment, as he said, creates the right conditions for the brain to grow properly.

Dr. Violetta Anastasiades, Geneticist, showed how genetics contributes to prompt diagnosis and treatment of cleft and craniofacial deformities. Parents who have brought to the world a child with cleft or craniofacial deformity can learn, through genetics, if this genetic anomaly is likely to occur a subsequent pregnancy.

Dr. Zoe Nicolaou, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Member of the Cyprus Center for Clefts and Facial Deformities MEDICLEFT, analysed maxillofacial surgery contribution in the process of the treatment of children with clefts and other craniofacial deformities, while she presented elements for the use of 3D digital imaging which contributes to better planning of orthognathic surgery performed on children with cleft and craniofacial deformities.

Dr. Christodoulos Laspos, Founder of the Cyprus Center for Clefts and Facial Deformities MEDICLEFT, presented the process and the significant benefits of presurgical orthopedic in children with clefts, which starts from the first week of life and contributes to proper preparation for the first plastic surgery. Also, he presented the stages of dealing with clefts, from the first day of birth until the age of 18 years.

During the ceremony the delegates had the opportunity to watch a short presentation of the life and work of the late Dr. Alexander Stratoudakis, who was the founder of the Hellenic Craniofacial Center and the inspiration behind the founding of the Cyprus Center for Clefts and Facial Deformities MEDICLEFT. A special moment of the opening ceremony was the moving statement that was made by Lucas, who was born with a cleft. He described his own experience with the MEDICLEFT TEAM and how the scientists helped him so he can continue to live and smile.

The central message given is that clefts and craniofacial deformities can be diagnosed promptly and be treated fully, with the contribution of the TEAM of scientists that constitute the Cyprus Center for Clefts and Facial Deformities MEDICLEFT. Further, with the support of Chrysallida and Smile Foundations, parents, families and the individuals themselves have moral and psychological support during the whole treatment. As mentioned in the speeches, clefts and facial malformations are treated fully and therefore individuals and their families can … smile to life.

Co-organizers of the Conference were the Cyprus Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, the Cyprus Society of Fetal Medicine, the Cyprus Gynaecological and Obstetrics Society, the Cyprus Pediatric Society,  the Cyprus Orthodontic Society, the Cyprus Association of Oral and Maxillo Facial Surgery, the Cyprus Society of Perinatal Medicine and the Association of Registered Speech-language Therapists of Cyprus.

Sponsors of the Conference were Gregoris Hadjigregoriou Ltd and Lithomega.

 

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