Texas Celft-Craniofacial Team

Texas Cleft -
        Craniofacial Team

A multi-specialty team whose primary goal is the treatment of patients with cleft and craniofacial deformities.


Day Surgery:

CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS: (PDF VERSION)

Discharge: Your child can go home when he or she:

• Is eating a regular diet (age appropriate).
• Has completed a 24 hour course of IV antibiotics since surgery.
• Has pain controlled with only Tylenol and/or Motrin.
• Has had no fever in the past 24 hours and is not anemic.
• Has voided both urine and stool.

Pain medication:

• You may give Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin/Advil (ibuprofen) on an as-needed basis, or you may give them on a schedule that is set up by your physician prior to discharge from the hospital.

What to feed:

• Regular age appropriate diet, no restrictions.
• Encourage juices if bowel movements seem difficult for your child.

Activity:

• Quiet play.
• Bumper pads on crib rails for infants and toddlers.
• Place a pillow or wedge under the crib mattress to lift up the head of the bed. Do this for the first 2 weeks after surgery to help any swelling go away faster.

Wound care:

• At home, clean the incisions twice daily with 1/2 strength hydrogen peroxide and apply antibiotic ointment (bacitracin or other, can be found at local drug store).
• You may wash the areas around the incisions with a washcloth and gentle shampoo, but avoid washing directly over the incisions until told to do so by your doctor(s).

When should I call the doctor?

• Fever higher than 101.5 tympanic/oral (or 100.5 axillary).
• Incision becomes reddened, swollen, warm to the touch, or more painful.
• Pus or any other drainage from the incision.
• Vomiting.
• Increased irritability (fussiness).
• Increased sleepiness.
• Seizure.

Follow-up with the doctors:

• Follow up with Dr. Teichgraeber at the Craniofacial clinic 1 week after surgery. Call the clinic at 832-325-7234 to set the appointment time. Follow-up with Dr. Baumgartner 1-2 weeks after surgery. Call his office at 713-704-2724.
• Your child will need a molding cap (helmet, cranial orhotic) to continue correction of your childs head shape. Dr. Teichgraeber will determine when your child should be seen for helmet-fitting at the post-operative appointment.

Contact Information

  • Ruth Garvey Fleshman, LCSW
    Clinical Coordinator
  • Phone: 713-500-7302
    Fax: 713-512-2221
    E-mail: Ruth.G.Fleshman@uth.tmc.edu

  • UT Pediatric Surgery Office address:
    6410 Fannin St., Suite 950
    Houston, TX 77030