Spring-Assisted Surgery in the Treatment of Complex Craniosynostosis

Multisutural nonsyndromic craniosynostosis is a rare group of malformations, whose frequency has been reported between 3% and 7% of all craniosynostosis. The clinical diagnosis can be difficult and computed tomography is usually required. Surgical treatment is challenging and staged procedures are performed in up to 80% of patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the reoperation rate and to evaluate the surgical outcomes by measuring intracranial volume (ICV) preoperatively and at follow-up, and comparing it to a control group. Perioperative variables and reoperation rate were recorded. Fifty-one patients presented with a complex pattern of synostosis without a recognizable syndrome (5% of cases of total patients evaluated). Fifteen patients have been treated with spring-assisted surgery, either alone or in combination with a foreheadplasty. The mean follow-up was 6.2 years. The mean preoperative ICV of the patients was smaller, but not significantly, than in the normal population (P = 0.13). Postoperatively, the mean ICV was similar to that of the control group at 1 year (P = 0.92), while at 3 years it was appreciably smaller, although not significantly different (P = 0.06). Five patients (33%) went through a secondary skull expansion for either raised intracranial pressure or cosmetic reasons. Spring-assisted surgery seems to temporarily expand ICV in children with complex synostosis and lower the reoperation rate, thus reducing the need for a second procedure. A longer follow-up would be necessary to further investigate the effects of springs over time. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Ruggero Bevilacqua, MD, University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy, Department of Plastic Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden; E-mail: ruggero.bevilacqua@vgregion.se Received 1 February, 2017 Accepted 1 December, 2017 The authors report no conflict of interest. © 2018 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

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