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Pfeiffer Syndrome Treatment in Dallas, TX
Pfeiffer syndrome affects the skull, hands, and feet and requires an intensive treatment plan. The doctors at the International Craniofacial Institute provide total care for patients affected by this syndrome, in addition to love and support for their family members.
What Is Pfeiffer Syndrome?
Pfeiffer syndrome affects the way in which the skull and facial bones grow, causing craniofacial abnormalities to develop. It also affects both the hands and the feet, making them grow in an abnormal manner. There are three types of Pfeiffer syndrome. While type one is the most common, type two and type three are more acute, and they are found to cause problems in the nervous system.
How Do People Inherit Pfeiffer Syndrome?
Pfeiffer syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder. Therefore, individuals with this syndrome have a 50 percent chance of passing it on to their child.
How Common Is Pfeiffer Syndrome?
Pfeiffer syndrome is a rare genetic disorder. In fact, it is estimated that this malady afflicts one in 100,000 individuals.
Pfeiffer Syndrome Characteristics
There are many symptoms associated with Pfeiffer syndrome. While some infants may be born with a misshapen forehead, other infants may have a flat-looking face. It is common for affected individuals to have underdeveloped cheekbones and eye sockets. They may even have protruding eyes and suffer from strabismus, which is a condition in which the eyes point in different directions. Other symptoms or craniofacial abnormalities include a small nose with a beak shape, broad thumbs, and abnormally big toes. The severity of the symptoms varies greatly and depends on the type of Pfeiffer syndrome.
What Is the Cause of Pfeiffer Syndrome?
A baby’s skull consists of bones held together by sutures. When these sutures close too early, the upshot is that the skull loses its ability to develop properly, so Pfeiffer syndrome becomes a problem, as a result.
To be more specific, Pfeiffer syndrome is caused by a gene mutation. Since the FGFR genes in babies are the components that signal cells to divide or mature, these genes have to function accordingly. When there is a malfunction, the cells are sent conflicting signals. Thus, the bones in the skull, fingers, and toes become malformed.
Pfeiffer Syndrome Treatment
When children are treated for a craniofacial issue, they are carefully evaluated. During the evaluation, many factors are taken into account so the most effective treatment plan can be put together.
Furthermore, as we work toward getting to the bottom of the problem at hand, we examine the underlying structures and functions that show signs of damage. Some of the parts we examine exhaustively include the brain, the facial skeleton, the central nervous system, and the various parts of the spine. For those who have a badly affected facial skeleton, we move as quickly as possible to identify and correct any changes that have occurred. That’s because we understand how this syndrome can wreak havoc on one’s ability to breathe, swallow, and speak correctly.
We carry out treatment plans in stages, performing reconstruction and other surgical procedures at the most opportune time.
Why Choose International Craniofacial Institute?
The International Craniofacial Institute in Dallas, Texas is a leading institute for the accurate diagnosis and quality treatment of Pfeiffer syndrome and other syndromes and conditions. Our institute was founded in 1971 by Dr. Kenneth Salyer, a surgeon. Today, the institute is organized and led by the director, Dr. David G. Genecov. Dr. Genecov operates the International Craniofacial Institute as one of the nation’s most prestigious centers for palate repair, craniofacial repair, and cleft lip repair.
At our institute, we train doctors and surgeons from all over the world. In addition, our doctors have treated more than 17000 patients. These patients come from the United States, as well as other countries.
To alter and correct craniofacial abnormalities and difficulties, a high skill set is demanded, and we have that here. Our doctors, surgeons and the rest of the staff are extremely knowledgeable and always up to date on the newest methods of diagnosis and treatment. Among all of our employees, we have decades of experience working with different syndromes, including Pfeiffer syndrome.
If you have a child or another family member who is suffering from a genetic syndrome or has a cleft lip, cleft palate, or craniofacial complication, the staff at the International Craniofacial Institute can help. Contact us today to talk with the doctors and staff about your options and how we can help.
