Operative repair of Treacher Collins syndrome is based upon the anatomic deformity and timing of correction is done according to physiologic need and development.
The most pressing issue at birth is airway and obstruction secondary to mandibular retrognathia. Occlusion of the oropharynx can occur in severe phenotypes, with collapse of the suprahyoid musculature and base of tongue. Emergent intubation with or without tracheostomy can be required.
A new management technique has been performed in selected cases. Distraction osteogenesis, an orthopedic method of lengthening bone, has been used to lengthen the neonatal mandible. The infant is intubated at birth, and, within a few days, a cut is made in both sides of the jaw and distraction hardware is placed. The jaw is stretched at 1-2 mm/d, and extubation is usually performed when 10 mm of lengthening is achieved. Tracheostomy is still the standard management for severe airway management, but alternatives may be applicable in certain cases.
For more minor obstructions that can be corrected with positioning, a tongue-lip adhesion is considered. Surgical adhesion is performed between the tongue, lip, and anterior mandible. This pulls the tongue forward, correcting the base of tongue obstruction, and pulls the tongue out of the nasopharynx in the presence of cleft palate. If tracheostomy has been performed for emergent airway concerns, mandibular distraction can be used in infancy to expedite decannulation, as is demonstrated in the images below.