Objective: Craniocerebral disproportion (CCD) is a challenging disease, and several expansile procedures have been used for its treatment. This report describes the dynamic chess-table cranial expansion technique and reports on 9 patients with primary and secondary CCD treated with this procedure.
Methods: Nine patients affected by CCD were treated with chess-table cranial expansion and reviewed. Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and radiologic findings were analyzed. ICP was monitored using epidural or telemetric sensors. Intracranial volume was measured using computed tomography image processing tools before the surgery, 24 hours after the surgery, and 1 month later. A mathematical model was developed to explain the clinical and surgical results.
Results: Five patients had secondary CCD and 4 had primary CCD. The mean age for cranial expansion was 16.78 years. The most frequent symptoms were headaches, nausea/vomiting, and decreased consciousness. Slit ventricles and sutural sclerosis were observed in 33.3% and 55.6% of patients. The mean ICP before the procedure was 48.67 mm Hg. Progressive cranial expansion was seen in all patients after surgery. The mean ICP decreased to 11 mm Hg and mean intracranial volume expansion was 85.8 cm3 at 1 month after surgery. There were no serious complications after surgery. All patients improved their symptoms, and no patient needed additional cranial expansion procedures.
Conclusions: Chess-table cranial expansion is a safe and effective procedure and may be used as an alternative treatment for CCD. Progressive expansion of the intracranial volume is related to a decrease in ICP recordings and an improvement of symptoms.
Keywords: Chess-table; Cranial expansion; Craniocerebral disproportion; Oxycephaly; Slit ventricle; Surgical technique.
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