Summary:

During PGFA you will learn the principles of reharmonization of the forces of growth and their practical application to the neurocranium. This seminar will allow you to understand, assess and release these forces in the neurocranium.

PGFB will allow you to clarify the growth relationships between the different parts of the skull. You will see how the growth parts and their counterparts interact, and how you can achieve lasting corrections of certain imbalances. With this course, you will be able to understand, assess, and unleash the growth forces of the splanchnocranium.

PGFB: Pediatrics and the Growth Forces of the Skull Part B; Clinical and Therapeutic Applications – Splanchnocranium

This seminar is a direct continuation of the previous course, which was dedicated to the growth forces of the neurocranium and their craniosacral neuromeningeal counterparts. It continues the cranial growth sequence and deals with the reorientation and reharmonization of the growth forces in the craniofacial region, primarily in childhood and adolescence.

The growth forces of the visceral skull are partly based on those of the cerebral skull via the skull base. However, facial growth has its own dynamics with a different sutural activity than that seen in the neurocranial sutures.

During PGFA we emphasize that although sutural freedom is an essential prerequisite for harmonious growth of the neurocranium, it is far from sufficient in itself. The same applies to the viscerocranium: the mechanical mobility of the sutures must not be confused with the growth forces themselves. Although the sutures play a central role, they are not the engine behind growth.

We will look at where the actual drivers of growth are located and how they cooperate across the different components of the face. For example, certain trophic aspects related to cranial nerves and vascular forces play a crucial role in craniofacial growth. Any neural fixation or vascular spasm can pose a barrier to proper development of the face or mandible.

Disturbances in these mechanisms can lead to a long-term growth imbalance. In addition to possible aesthetic consequences, such as asymmetry, this can also give rise to a number of symptoms: convergence disorders in the eyes, nasopharyngeal inflammations or allergies, ear infections, rhinitis, tonsillitis, dyspraxia, occlusion disorders, bruxism, etc. Osteopathic treatment based on growth dynamics remains essential to resolve complex issues and stabilize results.

Identifying and treating growth imbalances in young children requires both knowledge and method. Unleashing the forces of growth also requires great precision and considerable gentleness.

As with the PGFA, this seminar has an operational focus for efficiency. Through the theoretical content and techniques taught, the course will be of great support in your daily clinical practice. It will improve your diagnostics and therapeutic choices, as well as guide you in the interdisciplinary collaboration around the child – both in communication with other professionals and in the advice given to the patient and parents.

Goal:

• Understand the interplay between the growth forces in the viscerocranium, the interactions and the roles of the individual elements, and gain an understanding of the timing of growth spurts

• Further develop the viscoelastic palpation learned during PGFA and see its application to the splanchnocranium

• Achieve a precise evaluation method and adapted treatment techniques for the viscerocranium that take into account the growth forces of the child and adolescent

• Treat the child's functional disorders and prevent relapse by supporting these inner strengths

• Gain knowledge of the spatial and temporal organization of facial growth in order to establish qualified collaboration with other professional groups, such as orthodontists and specialists in dentofacial orthopedics, and be able to contribute meaningfully in an interdisciplinary approach

Theoretical content:

The theoretical repetition elements will be limited to the aspects necessary in contemporary pediatric practice:

• Fundamental differences between the growth of the neurocranium and the viscerocranium

• Timing of cranial and facial growth, growth peaks, the spatial and temporal organization of craniofacial growth, and the concept of neurotrophism

• Review of the specific characteristics of the different areas of facial growth:

  1. Orbital sector

  2. The medial sagittal sector

  3. The lateral craniofacial sector

  4. The linguo-mandibulo-hyovertebral sector

  5. The dento-alveolar sector

For each sector, growth driving factors, skeletal units, and the growth of the functional matrices of the face (eyes, nasal cavities, oral cavity, tongue, pharynx, etc.) will be presented.

• Facial architecture: the development of facial osteoarchitecture, terminological foundations in dentofacial orthopedics and the concept of “facial drawers”

• Mutual influences between neurocranial and splanchnocranial growth: connections between facial sectors and the growth of the skull base, Enlows Parts and Counterparts

• Mutual influences between spinal growth and facial growth

• Elements of differential diagnosis: balance and deformity aspects of the face

As with PGFA, the core theory is gathered in a half-day online course to allow as much time as possible for practice during the 3-day seminar.
This half-day webinar will be held in the month leading up to the seminar on a date yet to be determined (typically a Saturday).

Clinical and practical approach:

The three-day face-to-face course will focus on osteopathic treatment of children, primarily from approximately 2 years of age until the end of growth, although certain techniques can also be used on newborns and infants.

True to the principles and structure from the previous course, we will – after a brief review of the growth forces for each sector – work systematically with the following:

Centrofacial sector

• Evaluation of the nasomaxillary pyramid, listening, and specific assessments of sutural connections

• Auxological significance of chondroethmoid, primary causes of disorders, relationships to the anterior cranial fossa, evaluations and specific treatments (viscoelastic approach)

• Evaluation and treatment of the septo-vomeral beam, neurocartilaginous techniques

• Evaluation and treatment of the maxillo-palato-pterygoid gliding plane

• Evaluation and treatment of the vomero-premaxillary unit

• Evaluation and treatment of the ventilatory functional matrix, specific vascular techniques for the nasal mucosa

Orbital sector

• The role of the chondroethmoid in the chondral orbit

• Evaluation of the membranous orbital sector

• Orbital septum and intraorbital fat, intraorbital pressure – evaluation and treatment

• Neurosutural techniques on the membranous orbit

• Evaluation and treatment of the orbito-ocular functional matrix, specific vascular techniques for the contents of the orbit

Lateral craniofacial sector

• Evaluation of mandibular balance

• The two mandibles: the neural and the visceral mandible

• Evaluation and treatment of the neural mandible, including the condyle

Linguo-mandibulo-hyovertebral sector

• Evaluation and treatment of the visceral mandible

• Tongue functions related to growth (auxology)

• Assessment of the lingual functional matrix

• Specific treatment of the tongue, hypoglossal nerve and floor of the mouth

• Treatment of the pharyngobasilar fascia

Dento-alveolar sector

• Dental corridor

• Tooth position and occlusion

• Evaluation and treatment of modiolus

• Neuro-dental relationships

• Evaluation and treatment of the alveolar nerves

• Disorders of the dento-alveolar functional matrix, etiologies behind malocclusions

• Clinical significance of the manipulations