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The Australian Craniofacial Unit
About Us
The Unit was established in 1975 by Craniofacial Surgeon Professor David David to provide a service to patients in South Australia and to conduct overseas clinics. In September 1988 the Australian Health Ministers. Advisory Council, by mutual agreement between the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments, officially designated ours as the national unit in recognition of excellence and since that time it has been called the Australian Craniofacial Unit. This enables patients all around Australia access to the expertise which had developed over many years. It's purpose was to treat patients with a wide spectrum of disorders ranging from distortion of the skull and facial shape; cleft lip and palate deformities through to deep facial clefts; mouth and jaw problems; tumours and masses which require removal followed by reconstruction work. The cases presented can range from being relatively mild to gross. Some diseases can be present from birth whilst others, such as tumours and malignant growths, may develop later in life.
A significant part of the work of the teams of the Unit involves the application of craniofacial surgical techniques in the treatment of people who have been traumatised in road and work accidents. Further, sadly, those who require to be attended do after being assaulted is a reflection of a societal problem to which the Unit is asked to respond. The skill and dedication of the team is often drawn upon too in the treatment of burns victims.
A twenty-four hour craniofacial service for the assessment and treatment of traumatised patients is maintained at both the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the Women's & Children's Hospital.
The surgery performed at the Unit is often complex and demanding. In being called upon to respond to a range of needs the Unit can draw the required skills from a team comprising twelve medical and six paramedic specialties. The dedication to the team concept, accompanied by being able to sustain a consistently outstanding response to a heavy operative workload, has earned the Unit International recognition as a Centre of Excellence,
The aim of the Unit is to meet the multi-faceted needs of its patients and to this end, functions as a multi-disciplinary team incorporating expertise in clinical practice, research and education. It is one of the few units, worldwide to provide a holistic approach.
The Team
The Team includes experts from the following disciplines
Craniofacial Surgery Neurosurgery Microsurgery Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery Ophthalmology Social Work Speech Pathology General Paediatrics Genetics Psychiatry Anaesthesiology Radiology Cardiology Microbiology Orthodontics Dentistry Respiratory Medicine Nursing Administration Technical
Patient Assessment and Treatment
To ensure a systematic approach, assessment and treatment by members of the team is coordinated. A patient may require a few or many appointments depending upon their condition.
For interstate and overseas patients, these appointments are scheduled as closely together as possible to minimise the time required to complete the assessment review, or treatment phase. Residential accommodation at a modest cost is available.
Many patients will attend a clinic at the conclusion of their assessment appointments to discuss the findings and to set out a management program. If surgery is indicated, a planning meeting involving the patient, family members and relevant team members will be scheduled.
Patient management often spans many years. In the case of congenital abnormalities, it continues right through childhood and teenage years. Intervention is usually a combination of surgery and medical management undertaken at predetermined stages and supported by a sensitive and professional team.
Since inception, over 10,000 major operations have been performed by the Unit in Australia and overseas and the workload has been almost equally divided between adults and children.
Of the patients treated in Adelaide:
- 80% are South Australian
- 10% are from Interstate
- 10% are from Overseas
Conditions Treated
The patients treated can suffer from a wide spectrum of craniofacial conditions; distortion of the skull and facial shape; cleft lip and palate; facial clefts; mouth and jaw problems; facial asymmetry; benign and malignant tumours. Some conditions are present at birth while others can develop later in life.
Examples of conditions managed at the Unit include:
- Craniosynostoses Metopic synostosis Sagittal synostosis Coronal synostosis Lambdoid synostosis Plagiocephaly Crouzon syndrome Apert syndrome Saethre-Chotzen syndrome Pfeiffer syndrome Carpenter syndrome Cohen syndrome Waardenburg syndrome
- Speech Disorder Velopharyngeal Incompetence
- Tumours Rhabdomyosarcoma Chordoma Teratoma Orbital Lymphoma Haemangioma Fibrous Dysplasia Jaw Tumor Lymphangioma
- Clefts Cleft lip Cleft lip and palate Cleft palate Submucous cleft palate Pierre Robin syndrome Van der Woude syndrome Hemifacial Microsomia Goldenhar syndrome Treacher Collins syndrome Rare Facial Cleft
- Growth Disorders Binder Marfan Primary Orthognathic Primary Chin Encephaloceles Romberg Facial Atrophy TMJ Disorders Neurofibromatosis Beckwith-Wiedemann Moebius Trauma
The percentage of conditions treated to date at the Unit in Adelaide are
- clefts - 30%
- growth disorders - 18%
- trauma - 17%
- craniosynostosis - 14%
- tumours/masses - 8%
- degenerations - 5%
- speech disorders - 5%
- other - 3%
For over 30 years, Professor David David, AC, has been a leader in Australia's health industry through his innovative work in developing the treatments, tools, technology, research, and systems required for providing total, long term health care for individuals with craniofacial deformities in Australia and internationally. His work
has successfully bridged public and private sectors in Australia and overseas and has helped to bring university research and private industry and technology to the forefront of craniofacial treatments and knowledge.
A key component of Professor David's approach to total health care system delivery is his commitment to establishing an infrastructure that supports treatment, education, and research. To this end, he worked with the South Australian Government and the Commonwealth Government to create the Australian Craniofacial Unit for the treatment of patients. In 1984, with the support of Australian community groups, Professor David founded the Australian Cranio-Maxillo Facial Foundation as a means of raising funds for patient care, education and research. More recently collaboration amongst the Women's and Children's Hospital, the University of Adelaide, and community leaders has seen the establishment of the Australian Craniofacial Institute to foster research and provide education and training in craniofacial systems of care. Professor David serves as the Head of Unit, President and Executive Chairman of each of these organisations.
Professor David has dedicated years of personal commitment to the craniofacial discipline - establishing the Australian Cranio Maxillo Facial Foundation and related organisations in Adelaide; founding the Australian and New Zealand Society of Craniofacial Surgeons, of which he is immediate past President; and training and establishing multidisciplinary teams in public and private hospitals across the Asia Pacific region. In addition, his contributions internationally are recognised by his inaugural Presidency of the Asia Pacific Craniofacial Association (recently completed) and his current role as President of the International Society for Craniofacial Surgery.
For more information about Professor David David, you can visit his private website
How to donate
Your donation can change the life of a child forever. You can bring hope to children who have none. Help heal these children, provide support to families and renew their lives.
Click here to donate online to Australian Cranio-Maxillo Facial Foundation.
Click here to download a form which you can print out to post a donation to Australian Cranio-Maxillo Facial Foundation.
Prof David David