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A new three-dimensional measurement in evaluating the cranial asymmetry caused by craniosynostosis

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy volume 37, pages 989–995 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

To present a modified cranial vault asymmetry index, evaluate it by measuring the asymmetry of the skull shape with craniosynostosis and by assessing the surgical outcome quantitatively, compare it with traditional cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) and discuss its advantages and shortcomings.

Methods

Based on the traditional CVAI, anterior cranial vault asymmetry index (ACVAI) and posterior cranial vault asymmetry index (PCVAI) were proposed to evaluate surgical outcomes. We measured CVAI, ACVAI and PCVAI on the reconstructed three-dimensional computed tomography images to analyze the degree of the malformation and assess the surgical outcomes. The new method was compared with the traditional one, and statistical analysis was performed.

Results

Using Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test, preoperative ACVAI compared to postoperative one is statistically significant (p = 0.018), whereas, the p value for CVAI is 0.128 > 0.05.

Conclusions

The ACVAI and PCVAI as modified can better describe the degree of cranial vault asymmetry compared with CVAI. It is also a more reliable index to assess the surgical outcomes quantitatively.

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Conflict of interest

No author has any financial support and potential conflicts of interest for this work. The work described has not been submitted elsewhere for publication, in whole or in part, and all the authors listed have approved the manuscript that is enclosed.

Ethical standards

The experiments comply with the current laws of China in which they were performed. The data collection for this paper was approved and carried out under the recommendations of the PUMC Plastic Surgery Hospital IRB.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, No. 33, Badachu Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100144, China

    Hongyu Yin, Xue Dong & Bin Yang

  2. Plastic Surgery Departments, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 3302, Erdao District, Jilin Road, Changchun City, 130000, Jilin Province, China

    Xue Dong

Authors
  1. Hongyu Yin
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  2. Xue Dong
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  3. Bin Yang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bin Yang.

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Yin, H., Dong, X. & Yang, B. A new three-dimensional measurement in evaluating the cranial asymmetry caused by craniosynostosis. Surg Radiol Anat 37, 989–995 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-015-1430-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-015-1430-y

Keywords

  • Craniosynostosis
  • Cranial vault asymmetry index
  • Cranial asymmetry
  • Three-dimensional measurement