Pierre-Robin Sequence

A small lower jaw (mandible) can lead to abnormal tongue positioning causing a cleft palate which may obstruct the airway in some newborns.  The small jaw prevents the tongue from lying forward and can be fatal if unrecognized.  A craniofacial surgeon can help the problem by bringing the lower jaw forward by a process known as Mandibular distraction.

Lengthening the jaw may alleviate the obstructive sleep apnea, improving your child’s ability to breathe and feed.  Tracheotomy tubes may often be prevented or removed after treatment.