Craniofacial Surgery Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
nasolabial angle
The angle formed between the nose and upper lip in profile view, used to assess facial aesthetics and surgical outcomes.
pharyngeal flap
Surgical procedure creating a tissue bridge between the soft palate and posterior pharyngeal wall to treat velopharyngea...
Pierre Robin sequence
Constellation of birth defects including small jaw, cleft palate, and tongue displacement causing airway obstruction.
plagiocephaly
Asymmetrical flattening of the skull, either positional or due to premature suture fusion.
posterior cranial vault
The back portion of the skull encompassing the occipital and posterior parietal bones.
proptosis
Forward displacement of the eye from the orbital cavity.
pterygomaxillary disjunction
The surgical separation of the maxilla from the pterygoid plates, necessary for maxillary mobilization in orthognathic s...
rhinoplasty
Surgical reshaping of the nose for functional or aesthetic purposes, often involving both bone and cartilage modificatio...
rigid fixation
Surgical technique using plates and screws to immobilize bone segments after osteotomy.
Saethre-Chotzen syndrome
A genetic disorder featuring craniosynostosis, facial asymmetry, and limb abnormalities.
sagittal synostosis
Premature fusion of the sagittal suture causing abnormal skull growth and shape.
scaphocephaly
A boat-shaped head deformity resulting from premature fusion of the sagittal suture.
secondary alveolar bone grafting
Bone grafting procedure performed during mixed dentition to reconstruct alveolar cleft defects.
soft tissue envelope
The overlying skin, muscle, and fascial layers that cover the facial skeleton and influence surgical outcomes in craniof...
sphincter pharyngoplasty
Surgical creation of a dynamic muscular ring in the pharynx to improve velopharyngeal closure.
subciliary incision
A surgical incision placed just below the lower eyelashes to access the orbital floor and infraorbital rim.
suturectomy
Surgical removal or release of prematurely fused cranial sutures to allow normal brain growth.
syndromic craniosynostosis
Premature fusion of skull sutures occurring as part of a genetic syndrome with multiple anomalies.
telecanthus
Abnormal widening of the distance between the inner corners of the eyes, often associated with nasoethmoidal fractures.
temporoparietal fascia flap
Vascularized tissue flap from the temporal region used for reconstruction of complex facial defects.
treacher collins syndrome
A genetic disorder affecting facial bone and tissue development, characterized by downslanting eyes, micrognathia, and e...
trigonocephaly
A triangular forehead deformity caused by premature fusion of the metopic suture.
trismus
Limited mouth opening due to muscle spasm, scarring, or mechanical restriction, commonly seen after oral and maxillofaci...
turricephaly
An abnormally high, tower-shaped skull resulting from premature suture fusion.
uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
Surgical procedure removing tissue from the uvula, soft palate, and pharynx to treat sleep apnea.