Vascularized Pericranial Flap as a Method to Prevent Persistent Skull Defects After Craniectomy for Sagittal Synostosis

Abstract

Some cranial defects resulting from sagittal craniectomy for craniosynostosis never completely close and require cranioplasty. This study evaluates the results of 2 methods to minimize such defects: (1) trapezoidal craniectomy that is narrower posteriorly (2) vascularized pericranial flap that is sewn to the dura under a rectangular craniectomy.Children who underwent primary open sagittal craniectomy with biparietal morcellation (with/without frontal cranioplasty) for single-suture nonsyndromic sagittal synostosis from 2013 through 2018 were included. Children were excluded if there was a dural tear, if they had no 1-year follow-up, or if they had unmeasured and/or uncounted skull defects. Surgeries were divided into (1) standard craniectomy, (2) trapezoidal craniectomy, or (3) craniectomy with pericranial flap. Differences in percentage of children with defects and mean total defect area 1 year postsurgery were compared between the 3 groups.We reviewed 148 cases. After exclusions, 34 of 53 children (64%) who underwent standard craniectomy, 6 of 17 children (35%) who had pericranial flaps, and 5 of 11 children (46%) who underwent trapezoidal craniectomy had defects 1 year postsurgery. The percentage of children with defects (P = 0.0364) but not the defect area was significantly higher in the standard craniectomy than in the pericranial flap group. The percentage of subjects with defects was not significantly different between the standard and the trapezoidal craniectomy groups.Sewing a vascularized pericranial flap to the dura at the craniectomy site may protect against persistent bony defects after sagittal craniectomy for craniosynostosis. Longer follow-up is needed to determine if this technique leads to lower rates of cranioplasty.