Azerbaijan has achieved a major medical milestone by successfully performing the first highly complex craniofacial surgery of its kind in the South Caucasus.

The groundbreaking procedure was carried out at the Academician M. Topchubashov Scientific Surgery Center on a patient diagnosed with Crouzon syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes premature fusion of skull bones, The Caspian Post reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Health.

The surgical team was led by renowned plastic surgeon and Doctor of Medical Sciences Elchin Mammadov and neurosurgeon Afer Allahverdiyev. During the operation, specialists performed an advanced osteotomy, repositioning the fronto-orbital complex and the middle section of the face into their correct anatomical position. Special distraction devices were also implanted to support the reconstruction process.

Crouzon syndrome is a congenital condition that can lead to severe facial deformities, breathing difficulties, sleep apnea, vision problems, and other serious functional disorders due to abnormal skull development.