Paediatric craniofacial surgery: historical perspectives, recent advancements and refinements.

Paediatric craniofacial surgery has evolved since the innovative work of Tessier in the 1960s. The development of the team approach has greatly helped this progress. Technical advances of osteosynthesis and better radiological examinations have further improved the predictability and stability. Microvascular free tissue transfer is playing an increasing role in certain malformations.