Aim of the study. The goal of the present study was to analyse the exclusive use of absorbable suture material (Vicryl) in the fixation of transposed bone segments in cranial vault reshaping without modification of the osteotomy design. Clinical rationale for the study. In the surgical correction of craniosynostosis, bone fixation using osteosynthesis is a key step. Absorbable osteosynthesis is a widespread tool in cranial vault remodelling, but only a limited number of studies have described the use of absorbable sutures in the treatment of patients with craniosynostosis. Materials and methods. In 72 children with various types of craniosynostosis, up to 24 months of age, osteosynthesis was conducted exclusively with Vicryl sutures. All patients were evaluated for the stability of postoperative results, and foreign body reactions were examined as part of the routine clinical and radiological follow-up ranging from 1 to 36 months. Results. All examined children exhibited stable postoperative conditions with immediate stability of all remodelled cranial vaults. 2D and 3D radiological examinations demonstrated good bony union in all cases. Significant foreign body reactions were not observed and bone healing was noted at all sites. Conclusion and clinical implications. The exclusive application of absorbable suture material enables stable and cost-effective osteosynthesis in craniofacial surgery without altering the osteotomy design.
Longitudinal anthropometric follow-up is an objective and measurable method that can accurately non-invasively and non-expensively assess skull growth in pediatric patients with cranial deformity.
Purpose. The goal of the current study is to provide outcome data for open cranial vault reconstruction at a single institution by a single craniofacial-neurosurgical team.
Patients and Methods. A total of 70 patient records were reviewed. The inclusion criteria were patients less than 3 years of age undergoing primary surgery with open cranial vault reshaping and a minimum follow up time of 2 years.
Findings. Of the 70 patients meeting the selection criteria (32 female, 38 male), 5 were syndromic and 65 nonsyndromic. Average age and weight were 8.8 months and 9 kg respectively. The oldest child was 21 months and the youngest 3.5 months at the time of surgery. The estimated blood volume lost was 35.8% of total calculated blood volume. Average surgical time was 223.2 minutes.
Conclusion. Our review of 70 open repairs of patients with craniosynostosis demonstrates good long-term results with an overall low complication rate and represents open cranial vault reconstruction as a valuable method for repair of such defects.
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