Excellent Outcomes with Fewer Procedures
A Personalized, Family-Centered, Team-Based Approach
to Cleft and Craniofacial Care.
At the Cleft and Craniofacial Institute of Utah, we dedicate ourselves to the reconstruction and care of children with birth defects and facial deformities. Certified by the American Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Association (ACPA), we offer a personalized, family-centered, team-based approach to cleft and craniofacial care. Each member of our highly skilled team has unique experience treating craniofacial anomalies. Most importantly, we treat your child as they were our own. Our commitment to the latest and most innovative techniques provides the best possible care to the children of Utah, the Intermountain West, and beyond.
Our specialties include: cleft lip, cleft palate, craniosynostosis, craniofacial syndromes, congenital ear deformities, hand deformities, jaw abnormalities, vascular malformations, facial trauma and facial cysts/masses/tumors.
Our Expertise
Cleft Lip/Palate
Cleft lips and palates are one of the most common birth anomalies, affecting about 1/600 newborn babies in the United States and 1/500 in the state of Utah. Clefts can range from quite mild to fairly severe. Most of the time they are isolated, but in some cases, they are indicators of a gentic syndrome. Depending on what portions of the lip and palate are invovled will dictate the complexity of the treatment plan. Our multi-disiplinary team works together with you to develop a personalized treatment plan for your child.
Craniosynostosis
The skull is made up of several different bones that are joined together by growth plates called “sutures.” Craniosynostosis is a condition where one or more of these sutures fuse prematurely causing an abnormal head shape decreased cranial volume and the possiblity ofraised intracranial pressure. The treatment of craniosynostosis is surgical and the goals of surgery are to increase the volume of the skull and to corrrect the abnormal appearance of the head shape. There are two methods of surgical correction: open vault reconstruction. and strip craniectomy. Dr. Griner’s extensive training allows him to perform these complex procedures without the need for blood transfusions and spending only 1-2 nights in the hospital.
Syndromes
There are many syndromes that can affect the shape of the head and face and include Aperts, Crouzon, Pfieffer,Treacher Collins, and many others. Most of these syndroms include many other omplex anomalies and need to be treated in a coordinated approach in order to reduce the number of operations your child will need. These syndromes are rare and require specialist that are famailiar with the intricacies of each syndrome. Dr. Griner’s unique transining provided him with extensive experience with craniofacial syndromes and makes him the prremier choice to manage your child’s needs in Utah.
Ear Deformities
Ear deformities are one of the most common birth defects, experienced by roughly 45% of newborns. Despite their frequency, ear deformities are often overlooked by parents and hospital staff. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available that can correct these common ear deformities. In many cases, the earlier corrective medical treatment is done, the better. With today’s technology and improved knowledge of ear deformities, corrective treatment can be done on newborns shortly after birth.
Meet Our Team
From the Blog
Congratulations!
Welcome Utah's newest Cleft and Craniofacial certified team. After a very extensive review of the Cleft and Craniofacial Institute of Utah's team members, treatment protocols, and outcomes, the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association gave its approval and...