Surgical Treatment of Craniosynostosis

ABSTRACT

Authors made a clinical analysis on 22 patients of craniosynostosis who had been treated surgically at Severance Hospital from Jan. 1975 to Jun. 1983 and the results were summarized as follows. 1) In analysis of type of craniosynostosis, all of patient showed synostosis of coronal suture 7 cases had simple involvement of coronal suture, 14 cases had multiple suture involvement and 1 Crouzen's disease. 2) In sex distribution, male were 13 and female were 9 cases. Patient who had been on early operation within 6 months after birth were 6 cases(27%). 3) The most common clinical symptoms on admission were mental and developmental retardation and most patient showed palpable ridge along the suture of synostosis. 4) In brain CT scan finding, ventricular dilatation, cortical atrophy, low density areas and subdural effusion were commonly found in cases who diagnosis and operation were delayed. These findings were thought to be the secondary effect of increased intracranial pressure in early stage of craniosynostosis. 5) Among several operative methods, lateral canthal advancement of supraorbital margin showed good surgical results to provide adequate expansion of frontal bone. Early operation also revealed good results. 6) To make an early detection of craniosynostosis it will be necessary to give pediatricians and general practitioners more information about this disease.