Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Trigonocephaly (metopic synostosis)

Clinical, surgical and anatomical concepts

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Child's Nervous System Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The clinical features, surgical and anatomical concepts based on an evaluation of the development of the anterior cranial fossa in metopic synostosis are discussed. Thirteen cases of trigonocephaly of infancy during last 4 years are described. Five children were mentally retarded. A more marked triangular cranial configuration with acute nasopterional angle was associated with more severe mental retardation and other unfavorable conditions, including cardiopulmonary disorders and chromosome anomalies. From a quantitative analysis of the anterior cranial fossa development obtained from CT measurement in comparison with values in normal infants, the following procedures appeared to be important: (1) correction of acute nasopterional angle, achieving a flat forehead; (2) forward advancement of both pterions and anterolateral parts of the frontal bones, rebuilding the orbital roof and frontal eminences; (3) shortening of the overgrown midline structure by removal of the bony ridge of the metopic suture. Our procedure on the basis of these measurements for determination of surgical intervention is described.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Anderson FM (1981) Treatment of coronal and metopic synostosis: 107 cases. Neurosurgery 8:143–149

    Google Scholar 

  2. Anderson FM, Gwinn JL, Todt JC (1962) Trigonocephaly: identity and surgical treatment. J Neurosurg 19:723–730

    Google Scholar 

  3. Currarino G, Silverman FN (1960) Orbital hypotelorism, arrhinencephaly and trigonocephaly. Radiology 74:206–217

    Google Scholar 

  4. Delashaw JB, Persing JA, Park TS, Jane JA (1986) Surgical approaches for the correction of metopic synostosis. Neurosurgery 19:228–234

    Google Scholar 

  5. Frydman M, Kauschansky A, Elian E (1984) Trigonocephaly: a new familial syndrome. Am J Med Genet 18:55–59

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hoffman HJ, Mohr G (1976) Lateral canthal advancement of the supraorbital margin: a new corrective technique in the treatment of coronal synostosis. J Neurosurg 45:376–381

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hunter AGW, Rudd NL, Hoffman HJ (1976) Trigonocephaly and associated minor anomalies in mother and son. J Med Genet 13:77–79

    Google Scholar 

  8. Jacobsen P, Hauge M, Henningsen K, Hobolth N, Mikkelsen M, Philip J (1973) An (11,12) translocation in four generations with chromosome 11 abnormalities in the offspring. Hum Hered 23:568–585

    Google Scholar 

  9. Jane JA, Park TS, Zide BM (1984) Alternative techniques in the treatment of unilateral coronal synostosis. J Neurosurg 61:550–556

    Google Scholar 

  10. Küstner O (1981) Über Trigonocephalie, ein Beitrag zur Lehre von den fötalen Schädelsynostosen. Virchows Arch Pathol Anat 83:58–76

    Google Scholar 

  11. Marchac D (1978) Radical forehead remodeling for craniosynostosis. Plast Reconstr Surg 61:823–835

    Google Scholar 

  12. Marsh JL, Schwartz HG (1983) The surgical correction of coronal and metopic craniosynostosis. J Neurosurg 59:245–251

    Google Scholar 

  13. Matson DD (1960) Surgical treatment of congenital anomalies of the coronal and metopic sutures. Technical note. J Neurosurg 17:413–417

    Google Scholar 

  14. Moss ML (1959) The pathogenesis of premature cranial synostosis in man. Acta Anat (Basel) 37:351–370

    Google Scholar 

  15. Opitz JM, Johnson RC, McCreadie SR, Smith DW (1969) The C syndrome of multiple congenital anomalies. Birth Defects 5:161–166

    Google Scholar 

  16. Raimondi AJ, Gutierrez FA (1977) A new surgical approach to the treatmment of coronal synostosis. J Neurosurg 46:210–214

    Google Scholar 

  17. Riemenschneider PA (1957) Trigonocephaly. Radiology 68:863–865

    Google Scholar 

  18. Say B, Meyer J (1981) Familial trigonocephaly associated with short stature and developmental delay. Am J Dis Child 135:711–712

    Google Scholar 

  19. Scarfo GB, Tomaccini D (1980) Trigonocephaly. Some clinical and surgical features. Acta Neurol Belg 80:137–143

    Google Scholar 

  20. Seegar JF, Gabrielson TO (1971) Premature closure of the frontosphenoidal suture in synostosis of coronal suture. Radiology 101:631–635

    Google Scholar 

  21. Shillito J Jr, Matson DD (1968) Craniosynostosis: a review of 519 surgical patients. Pediatrics 41:829–853

    Google Scholar 

  22. Virchow R (1851) Über den Cretinismus, namentlich in Franken, und über pathologische Schädelformen. Verh Phys Ges Med Würzburg 2:230–256

    Google Scholar 

  23. Welcker H (1862) Untersuchungen über Wachstum und Bau des menschlichen Schädels. Engelmann, Leipzig (quoted from [19])

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Shizuo Oi

    Present address: Department of Neurological Surgery, Kobe University, School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-Cho, Chuo-Ku, 650, Kobe, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, National Kagawa Children's Hospital, 2603 Zentsuji-Cho, 765, Zentsuji-City, Kagawa, Japan

    Shizuo Oi & Satoshi Matsumoto

  2. Department of Neurological Surgery, Kobe University, School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-Cho, Chuo-Ku, 650, Kobe, Japan

    Satoshi Matsumoto

Authors
  1. Shizuo Oi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Satoshi Matsumoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oi, S., Matsumoto, S. Trigonocephaly (metopic synostosis). Child's Nerv Syst 3, 259–265 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00271819

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00271819

Key words

Search

Navigation