Dr. Chris Viozzi: Pearls on Alveolar Cleft Grafting and Doing Mission Trips

Today’s guest is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who specializes in alveolar cleft grafting, cleft orthognathic surgery, and distraction. Through these life-changing procedures, Dr. Chris Viozzi is doing his part to give back, and he does this not only through treating patients within the US, but also those outside of it during 10-day mission trips he was doing twice a year prior to the pandemic. In today’s episode, Chris explains the variation that exists amongst the patients he treats, as well as amongst the techniques that can be used for the procedures he does. We also discuss donor sites, follow-ups, and common concerns relating to cleft surgeries. Chris is not fellowship-trained, and his OMS basic training was more than enough to get him to his current position on the Mayo Clinic’s Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic team. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• The craniofacial team that Chris is a part of, and his niche within the team.
• Other medical professionals who make up the craniofacial team.
• Diversity amongst the patients that Chris and his team treat at the clinic.  
• Vital understandings that anyone doing alveolar cleft grafting must have. 
• Elements of alveolar cleft grafting that have evolved over time. 
• Examples of the variety of techniques for alveolar cleft grafting that exist. 
• Why the iliac crest is usually the best donor site. 
• Common concerns around allografts.  
• Chris shares why Infuse was black-boxed by the FDA, and his opinion on using it for alveolar cleft grafting.
• Timing of follow-ups post alveolar cleft grafting.
• Why Chris avoids corticocancellous blocks whenever possible. 
• The approximate percentage of alveolar cleft grafting patients that need cleft orthognathic surgery later in life. 
• Differences between Asian and Caucasian children in terms of the likelihood of requiring orthognathic surgery.
• Where Chris acquired the majority of his cleft surgery skills. 
• Chris’s experience doing mission trips, and the perspective he gained as a result. 
• The lack of continuity of care in many countries outside of the US.
• Challenges to OMS involvement in cleft surgery. 
• Book recommendations from Chris.
• Chris’s favorite OMS tool.  

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Chris Viozzi — 

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks — http://rebeccaskloot.com/the-immortal-life/ 

Quiet — https://www.quietrev.com/quiet-the-book-2/ 

Medical Missions for Children — https://www.mmfc.org/ 

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059