Bilateral peninsula-shaped linear craniectomy for mild degrees of craniosynostosis: indication, technique and long-term results

Abstract

Objective: The goals of surgery in craniosynostosis are to reduce increased intracranial pressure and to achieve a good aesthetic result with minimal mortality and morbidity. A new type of strip craniectomy according to these principles is presented. Patients: The technique was applied to seven cases of oxycephaly and three cases of scaphocephaly under 5 years of age. None of them had major cranial base involvement, facial deformity or marked psychomotor retardation. There was no syndromic case of craniosynostosis included in this group. Methods: A curvilinear parasagittal craniectomy was combined with coronal and lambdoid craniectomies bilaterally. These craniectomies were curved postero- and antero-inferiorly, respectively, in order to create bilateral 'peninsula-shaped' parieto-temporal bones with their neck still attached to the temporal bone. A linear craniectomy, crossing the superior sagittal sinus and combining right and left curvilinear craniectomies was added. Results: The operative time varied between 45 min and 1 h, without any complications. Correction of the skull shape was successful in all cases. Conclusion: This technique is simple and effective. But, it is only applicable to a minority of craniosynostoses. Patient selection is the key to better results. (c) 2003 European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery.