The Lagos University Teaching Hospital,has used its Quarterly Hospital Grand Round to spotlight the transformative work of oral and maxillofacial surgeons, bringing together clinicians, administrators and trainees for a multidisciplinary discussion on managing complex facial conditions.
The session, held at Hall 36 and hosted by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, carried the theme “Faces, Feelings and Function: The Pivotal Role of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon.”
Prof. Ayodeji Oluwole, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, set the tone in his opening remarks, praising the department for a topic that reinforced the value of cross-specialty collaboration. He described the Grand Round as an essential platform for continuous medical education, knowledge sharing and improved patient outcomes.
Dr. Rachel Babayomi, delivering the first presentation on “The Face and Its Function,” framed the face as central to human identity, communication and survival.
The facial skeleton, she explained, provides the structural basis for appearance, while attached muscles drive expressions — smiling, frowning, pouting — that underpin non-verbal communication.
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Beyond aesthetics, she noted the face’s protective role: it houses and shields vital organs, particularly the brain, and serves as the gateway for breathing and feeding. Vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch are all closely tied to facial structures, making it indispensable to daily function.
Causes of Facial Deformities
Dr. Fatima Kyari, speaking on the aetiology of facial deformities, said the conditions are among the most complex congenital and acquired disorders — affecting both appearance and essential functions such as feeding, speech, breathing and hearing.
Drawing on clinical cases managed at LUTH, Kyari noted that more than 400 syndromes worldwide are associated with craniofacial deformities. She classified the causes broadly into congenital conditions — including cleft lip and palate, craniofacial syndromes, craniosynostosis, hemifacial microsomia and hereditary disorders — and acquired deformities arising from trauma, tumours and severe craniofacial infections.
She highlighted the heavy burden of facial trauma from road traffic crashes, falls, sports injuries, gunshot wounds and assaults, noting that oral and maxillofacial surgeons routinely manage some of the most complex emergencies involving the facial skeleton and surrounding soft tissues.
Dr. Olumide Okeowo examined the mental health dimensions, arguing that the impact of facial deformities extends well beyond physical appearance. Because the face is the primary means by which individuals are recognised, deformities can be especially distressing.
Affected patients frequently experience diminished self-esteem, poor body image, social withdrawal, anxiety and depression, he said. Children often face teasing and bullying, while adults may grapple with altered self-identity, discrimination and strained relationships. Patients who sustain facial injuries in traumatic events may also develop post-traumatic stress disorder — underscoring, he argued, the need for psychological evaluation and counselling as part of comprehensive care.
Surgical Options on Offer
Dr. Adegbayi Adekunle outlined the reconstructive procedures available for correcting both congenital and acquired deformities, noting that treatment depends on the nature and severity of each case and may involve the soft tissues, the facial skeleton, or both.
Using LUTH-managed cases, he showcased several techniques, including distraction osteogenesis — a method that gradually lengthens bone using specialised devices to stimulate new bone formation and correct facial asymmetry, particularly in children with temporomandibular joint ankylosis whose restricted jaw movement impairs facial growth.
He said orthognathic surgery is for correcting jaw discrepancies, such as cases where the lower jaw projects excessively beyond the upper jaw. Through careful planning and collaboration with orthodontists, the jaws are repositioned to restore facial balance, improve chewing and speech, and boost patient confidence.
Prof. Olutayo James, Head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, delivered the final presentation, summarising the discussions and reaffirming the department’s commitment to world-class craniofacial care.
He said LUTH possesses the expertise, technology and multidisciplinary team to manage even the most complex conditions, offering advanced hard and soft tissue reconstruction, orthognathic surgery, distraction osteogenesis and maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation.
James also highlighted the department’s Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthetics Laboratory, where skilled technologists fabricate prosthetic devices for patients who cannot undergo reconstructive surgery or require additional rehabilitation.
These include obturators for patients who have lost portions of the upper jaw, feeding plates for infants with cleft palate, and facial prostheses designed to restore appearance and function.
Successful management, he stressed, depends on collaboration among oral and maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, psychologists, prosthetists and other specialists working toward the best patient outcomes.
The Grand Round reinforced LUTH’s commitment to clinical excellence, continuous professional development, research and innovation — and showcased the hospital’s capacity to deliver comprehensive, patient-centred care for those living with complex craniofacial conditions.
NAN
