The Driscoll Children’s Hospital Craniofacial, Cleft and Plastic Surgery Center provides optimal care and works to improve the quality of life for patients and families of children with facial differences. Children with craniofacial anomalies, whether congenital or acquired, frequently have medical and social challenges above and beyond the anatomical defect. Our specialists are trained to care for children with a wide variety of craniofacial conditions affecting the appearance, growth and shape of the skull, face, ears and eyes. Our experienced specialists work together to provide coordinated care for pediatric patients and their families. All aspects of a patient’s diagnosis, treatment and recovery are addressed.
The team is comprises the following areas of expertise:
A surgical site infection is an infection that occurs after surgery in the part of the body where the surgery took place. Most patients who have surgery do not develop an infection. However, infections develop in about 1 to 3 out of every 100 patients who have surgery. Some of the common symptoms of a surgical site infection are:
Redness and pain around the area where you had surgery
Drainage of cloudy fluid from your surgical wound
Fever
Yes. Most surgical site infections can be treated with antibiotics. The antibiotic given to you depends on the bacteria (germs) causing the infection. Sometimes patients with SSIs also need another surgery to treat the infection.
To prevent SSIs, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers:
Clean their hands and arms up to their elbows with an antiseptic agent just before the surgery.
Clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before and after caring for each patient.
May remove some of your hair immediately before your surgery using electric clippers if the hair is in the same area where the procedure will occur. They should not shave you with a razor.
Wear special hair covers, masks, gowns, and gloves during surgery to keep the surgery area clean.
Give you antibiotics before your surgery starts. In most cases, you should get antibiotics within 60 minutes before the surgery starts and the antibiotics should be stopped within24 hours after surgery.
Clean the skin at the site of your surgery with a special soap that kills germs.
Before your surgery:
Tell your doctor about other medical problems you may have. Health problems such as allergies, diabetes, and obesity could affect your surgery and your treatment.
Quit smoking. Patients who smoke get more infections. Talk to your doctor about howyou can quit before your surgery.
Do not shave near where you will have surgery. Shaving with a razor can irritate your skin and make it easier to develop an infection.
At the time of your surgery:
Speak up if someone tries to shave you with a razor before surgery. Ask why you need to be shaved and talk with your surgeon if you have any concerns.
Ask if you will get antibiotics before surgery.
After your surgery:
Make sure that your healthcare providers clean their hands before examining you, either with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
If you do not see your providers clean their hands, please ask them to do so.
Family and friends who visit you should not touch the surgical wound or dressings.
Family and friends should clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before and after visiting you. If you do not see them clean their hands, ask them to clean their hands.
Before you go home, your doctor or nurse should explain everything you need to know about taking care of your wound. Make sure you understand how to care for your wound before you leave the hospital.
Always clean your hands before and after caring for your wound.
Before you go home, make sure you know who to contact if you have questions or problems after you get home.
If you have any symptoms of an infection, such as redness and pain at the surgery site, drainage, or fever, call your doctor immediately. If you have additional questions, please ask your doctor or nurse.
The Driscoll Craniofacial and Cleft Center provides interdisciplinary treatment planning to achieve maximum habilitation with efficient use of parent and patient time and resources.
Upon patient referral:
A clinic appointment will be scheduled at the earliest opportunity for patients referred by a private physician.
Patients will remain under the primary care of the referring physician.
The Craniofacial and Cleft team will evaluate the patient and develop a comprehensive treatment plan, documenting the needs of the family as well as the medical assessment and recommendations of all team members who evaluate the patient.
A recommendation letter will be furnished to the referring physician.
During each follow-up clinic visit, the relevant team members will assess treatment outcomes, considering the patient's psychosocial well-being, growth, function, and appearance. Treatment plans will be updated accordingly.
