Treatment, Surgery & Anesthesia
Osteotomy
An osteotomy is the surgical cutting and reshaping of bone, sometimes used in craniofacial reconstruction.
In short: Osteotomy
- It reshapes or repositions bone.
- It can be part of craniofacial reconstruction.
- It helps restore facial structure and symmetry.
- It is planned carefully with imaging.
What it is
It is the surgical cutting of bone to reshape or reposition it. In craniofacial reconstruction, an osteotomy may be used to adjust the bones of the skull and face.
Understanding Osteotomy
When craniofacial reconstruction is part of anterior encephalocele repair, osteotomies can reshape or reposition bone to restore facial structure and symmetry — for example, to address eye spacing or the contour of the forehead. These are planned carefully with imaging, including CT and 3D reconstruction, and performed by the craniofacial team. The growing skull's remodeling capacity is taken into account in planning.
Why it matters
Understanding osteotomy helps families see how bone is reshaped during craniofacial reconstruction to restore facial structure and symmetry, as part of repairing anterior encephaloceles.
Common questions
What is an osteotomy?
The surgical cutting and reshaping of bone.
When is it used?
Sometimes in craniofacial reconstruction.
Why is it done?
To restore facial structure and symmetry.
Bottom line
An osteotomy reshapes or repositions bone during craniofacial reconstruction to restore facial structure.
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