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Synostectomy versus complex cranioplasty for the treatment of sagittal synostosis

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Abstract

Although pediatric neurosurgeons traditionally have been trained to perform a sagittal synostectomy for the treatment of sagittal synostosis, numerous articles advocating modifications of this procedure or more complex cranial vault reconstructions point our the inadequacies of strip craniectomy in providing optimal short- and long-term cosmesis. This review addresses the major arguments for and against performing complex cranioplasties for sagittal synostosis, as well as issues regarding timing of surgery, mortality and morbidity, increased need for blood transfusion, and increased expense. The authors support the contention that for the majority of infants with sagittal synostosis, complex calvarial vault reconstruction provides a better outcome with little increase in operative risk.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Arkansas Children's Hospital, 800 Marshall Street, Slot 838, 72202, Little Rock, AR, USA

    Frederick A. Boop

  2. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Arkansas Children's Hospital, 800 Marshall Street, Slot 838, 72202, Little Rock, AR, USA

    Kristopher Shewmake

  3. Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, D.C., USA

    Wilham M. Chadduck

Authors
  1. Frederick A. Boop
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  2. Kristopher Shewmake
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  3. Wilham M. Chadduck
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Boop, F.A., Shewmake, K. & Chadduck, W.M. Synostectomy versus complex cranioplasty for the treatment of sagittal synostosis. Child's Nerv Syst 12, 371–375 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00395087

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00395087

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