Facing the World: audit of activity 2002-2010.

Area of Science:

• Craniofacial surgery
• Global health initiatives
• Pediatric reconstructive surgery

Background:

• Craniofacial anomalies present significant morbidity and require specialized multidisciplinary care.
• Facing the World (FTW) was established in 2002 to provide surgical treatment for children with complex craniofacial conditions from developing nations.
• The organization facilitates international patient transfer for treatment when local options are unavailable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To audit the outcomes of craniofacial reconstructive surgery provided by Facing the World (FTW) over an 8-year period.
• To evaluate the range of cases treated, associated complications, and mortality rates.
• To discuss the long-term sustainability and global impact of international surgical missions.

Main Methods:

• An 8-year retrospective audit of patients treated by FTW was conducted.
• Patient selection involved a multidisciplinary team assessing treatability and risks versus benefits.
• Children were brought from their home countries to the UK for surgical intervention.

Main Results:

• Over 300 cases were evaluated, with over 24 children from 18 countries receiving treatment.
• The study reported a complication rate of 28%.
• A mortality rate of 4% (1 case) was observed.

Conclusions:

• Developing local healthcare infrastructure is crucial for the long-term sustainability of craniofacial care in developing countries.
• FTW aims to improve children's lives, raise global awareness, and expand the international network for craniofacial condition management.
• The ultimate goal is to enable local management of less complex cases and patient follow-up by trained medical staff.