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Children's craniofacial surgery
5 May 2011
Every year, 600 children with disfiguring conditions visit the world renowned Craniofacial Unit team at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Their lives are transformed by astonishing and innovative surgery, backed by psychological and educational support.
On Wednesday 4 May BBC2 aired the first of a new three-part series, 'Children's Craniofacial Surgery'. The series follows children with life-threatening conditions through surgery which quite literally rebuilds their heads and faces and, ultimately, their lives.
The Oxford Craniofacial Unit is based at Oxford Children's Hospital|, part of the John Radcliffe Hospital|. It's one of only four super-regional centres in the UK licensed to carry out a particular type of complex and risky surgery which dismantles the face and skull and puts them back together in a better shape.
The team has a worldwide reputation for pioneering surgery, but it's also a 'one stop shop' combining the skills of surgery with psychological and counselling support for severely disfigured children and their families, genetic counselling and speech and language therapy.
Executive producer for Landmark Films, Nicholas O'Dwyer, says: "The work of the Craniofacial team is simply astonishing: they have transformed the life prospects of a whole generation of children who have passed through their doors. Through the Oxford team's work, they undergo a transformation which means they wouldn't attract a second glance in the playground. Much of this work takes years and the dedication of the surgical team and those who surround them is amazing. Filming with them over the past year has been a privilege."
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Mr David Johnson is a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon.
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Mr Jayaratnam Jayamohan is a Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon.
Both are members of the Oxford craniofacial team – one of four such specialist units in the UK.