Cleft and craniofacial anomalies are conditions affecting the skull and face. Some children are born with craniofacial anomalies, while others develop the conditions later in childhood. The most common congenital (present from birth) craniofacial anomalies are cleft lip & palate. These conditions occur in approximately 1 in 600 newborns in the U.S.
About Our Program
About Our Program
Children with facial differences can undergo various procedures and therapies throughout their lifetime. Often, multiple specialists are required to provide comprehensive care. This can be both daunting and intimidating for patients and families.
The Cleft & Craniofacial Anomalies Program at Riley Children's Health streamlines your visits to the hospital so that multiple specialists can see your child, if necessary, and develop a unified care plan. This approach limits your visits to the hospital while providing your child with a personalized plan designed to improve health and quality of life.
Our multidisciplinary cleft and craniofacial anomalies team includes board certified doctors, therapists and nurse specialists dedicated to caring for children with facial differences. We provide a comprehensive, personalized care plan, so your child receives the most effective treatments and procedures.
Riley Children's has provided services to patients with facial anomalies since 1933. Our Cleft & Craniofacial Anomalies Program was one of the first established in the U.S. and remains at the forefront of pediatric and facial reconstruction. We continue to define the standard of care for facial reconstruction by publishing our clinical outcomes, delivering lectures regionally, nationally and internationally and actively participating in national and international surgical societies.
Our physician specialists are faculty members of the IU School of Medicine. Additionally, our craniofacial surgeons have completed a year of intensive training in the reconstruction of the face and skull after achieving board certification in plastic surgery.
We have earned recognition as an affiliate with the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association because of our high level of training and staff expertise. Our faculty members have held top leadership positions with the Ohio Valley Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Craniofacial Surgery and the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons and have been recognized as Top Doctors by Indianapolis Monthly.
We have received national recognition for the development of Camp About Face, a week-long residential summer camp for children with facial anomalies, and the Camp About Face Leadership Academy, a companion program for youth ages 16-18.
Our staff members also raise awareness of cleft and craniofacial anomalies in the community by speaking to college classes, nonprofit organizations and other groups.
Conditions & Services
Conditions Treated
Our pediatric specialists provide patient- and family-centered care for most related conditions. The links below provide more specific information about some, but not all, of the conditions that we treat.
Doctors and
Locations
Doctors
Our doctors define the standard of care for cleft and craniofacial anomalies treatment. Our team includes doctors and craniofacial surgeons who have completed a year of intensive training in reconstruction of the face and skull after achieving board certification in plastic surgery.
4.6 out of 5 stars
(186 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyNeurosurgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery
317.944.6201
4.7 out of 5 stars
(157 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyPlastic Surgery, Pediatric Surgery
317.948.0345
4.7 out of 5 stars
(269 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyPediatric Otolaryngology
317.944.8620
4.8 out of 5 stars
(138 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyPlastic Surgery
317.944.3636
4.6 out of 5 stars
(40 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyPlastic Surgery
317.948.0345
4.4 out of 5 stars
(226 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyOtolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Pediatric Otolaryngology
317.944.6467
4.8 out of 5 stars
(56 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyDevelopmental - Behavioral Pediatrics
317.944.4846
4.8 out of 5 stars
(113 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyPlastic Surgery - Facial, Plastic Surgery, Pediatrics
317.948.0345
Locations
Locations
In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.
Riley Pediatric Plastic Surgery
575 Riley Hospital Dr
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Program Forms & Resources
Program Forms & Resources
The Cleft & Craniofacial Anomalies Program at Riley at IU Health provides the following forms for parents, healthcare providers and personnel. We have also curated relevant resources from other websites and provided links with brief descriptions of the information that is available.
Forms
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Your Visit With Us (Riley at IU Health)
This handout answers some of the most common questions we receive from parents and caregivers.
Resources
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The Cleft Palate Foundation serves patients and families affected by cleft lip and/or cleft palate and other craniofacial conditions.
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AmeriFace provides educational and emotional support to patients and families living with craniofacial anomalies.
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Children's Craniofacial Association
This nonprofit shares educational, financial and supportive resources with patients and families.
Related Departments
Related Departments
We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related departments.
Related Stories
Related Stories
Puppy love: “He has a cleft just like me!”
Riley kid Emmalyn Allgood and her new pup Maverick have matching cleft lips.
Continue readingHealth Professionals
For Health Professionals
We accept patient referrals from all across Indiana and beyond. Our board certified specialists are recognized leaders in clinical care, research and education.
Our current physicians have published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and have presented their work at numerous regional, national and international scientific meetings. Their research interests include evidence-based outcomes, clinical studies and translational research—all of which aim to enhance patient care and safety through improved techniques and technology.
Refer A Patient
Riley at IU Health works with referring physicians in Indiana and beyond.
Refer A PatientEducation
Helping to train the next generation of physicians is a key priority. Riley collaborates with the IU School of Medicine to provide training opportunities for medical students and residents pursuing pediatric surgery. We also offer a craniofacial fellowship program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.