PhD defence R.W. (Ruben) Renkema

Brief summary:

The dissertation "craniofacial microsomia – beyond the first and second pharyngeal arch" studies the extent of this syndrome and how the care for these patients can be organized best. Craniofacial microsomia, also known as CFM, is considered a congenital condition of the face, which arises from the first and second pharyngeal arch. This dissertation has shown that nearly half of the patients with CFM also have congenital conditions in other parts of the body, such as the heart, vertebrae, or kidneys. Furthermore, there are indications that structures in the face also function differently. For example, patients with CFM sometimes have difficulty closing the nasal cavity properly while speaking, resulting in nasal speech. Additionally, it was investigated whether the facial asymmetry in CFM, which arises from unilateral underdevelopment of the face, changes during the child's growth. It appears that patients do not become more asymmetrical during growth, which can be important for the timing of certain surgeries. The second part of the dissertation consists of an overview of all the new research conducted on CFM and the European guideline on craniofacial microsomia. This guideline is a document developed with various specialists in Europe, discussing all aspects of CFM and making recommendations for the care of these patients based on scientific literature and consensus among specialists. All of this aims to improve the care for patients with craniofacial microsomia.