Surgical correction of craniosynostosis. A review of 100 cases

Abstract

Purpose: Provide outcome data for open cranial vault reshaping at a single institution by a single craniofacial surgeon treating 100 patients.

Methods and subjects: A total of 100 patient records were reviewed. Criteria for selection included patients less than three years of age undergoing primary surgery with open cranial vault reshaping and a minimum follow up time of 2 years.

Results: Of the 100 patients (27 female, 73 male) treated 6 were syndromic and 94 nonsyndromic. Average age and weight were 8.9 months and 9.51 kg, respectively. The oldest child was 30 months and the youngest 5 months at the time of surgery. The estimated blood volume lost was 42.7% of total calculated blood volume ranging from 16.6% to 336%. Average surgical time was 216.7 min. Complications included 2 hematomas, 2 wound infections, 1 subgaleal abscess, 6 dural tears, 3 patients requiring reoperation for residual deformity, 4 cases requiring coronal scar revision, 1 sagittal sinus bleed, and 1 intraoperative death.

Conclusions: Our review of 100 open repairs of patients with craniosynostosis demonstrates good long-term results with an overall low complication rate. The outcome data will assist in developing future prospective studies aimed at improving the multidisciplinary care of these patients.

Keywords: Cranial vault; Craniosynostosis; Plagiocephaly; Scaphocephaly.