[Prospective analysis of inflammatory markers and perioperative clinical data in children with craniosynostosis undergoing reconstructive surgery]. / Prospektivnyi analiz dinamiki laboratornykh markerov vospaleniya i klinicheskoi kartiny perioperatsionnogo perioda pri rekonstruktivnykh operatsiyakh u detei s kraniosinostozami.

BACKGROUND: Craniosynostosis (CS) is a group of skull malformations manifested by congenital absence or premature closure of cranial sutures. Reconstructive surgery in the second half of life is traditional approach for CS. The issues of surgical stress response after reconstructive surgery for CS in children are still unclear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical and laboratory parameters in children undergoing traumatic reconstructive surgery for CS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Inclusion criteria were CS, reconstructive surgery, age <24 months, no comorbidities and available laboratory diagnostic protocol including complete blood count, biochemical blood test with analysis of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, ferritin and presepsin. The study included 32 patients (24 (75%) boys and 8 (25%) girls) aged 10.29±4.99 months after surgery between October 2021 and June 2022. Non-syndromic and syndromic forms of CS were observed in 25 (78.1%) and 7 (21.9%) cases, respectively. RESULTS: There were no infectious complications. We analyzed postoperative clinical data, fever, clinical and biochemical markers of inflammation. CONCLUSION: Early postoperative period after reconstructive surgery for CS in children is accompanied by significant increase of inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, ferritin). However, these findings do not indicate infectious complications. This is a manifestation of nonspecific systemic reaction. Severity of systemic inflammatory response syndrome with increase in acute phase proteins indicates highly traumatic reconstructive surgery for CS in children. Analysis of serum presepsin allows for differential diagnosis between infectious complication and uncomplicated course of early postoperative period.

[Difficulties in differential diagnosis of sagittal synostosis (scaphocephaly)]. / Trudnosti differentsial'noi diagnostiki sagittal'nogo sinostoza (skafotsefalii).

Craniosynostosis is characterized by congenital absence or premature closure of skull sutures. The most common form of craniosynostosis is synostosis of sagittal suture followed by scaphocephaly. There are some head deformities similar to scaphocephaly such as positional and constitutional dolichocephaly, etc. These patients have no sagittal suture synostosis. However, there are difficulties in differential diagnosis between these deformities and scaphocephaly. OBJECTIVE: To develop differential diagnostic criteria between dolichocephalic head deformities and true scaphocephaly following sagittal synostosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 33 patients with dolichocephaly (25 (75.8%) boys and 8 (24.2%) girls) between December 2013 and August 2022. The inclusion criterion was available CT or ultrasound data confirming or excluding sagittal synostosis. Age of patients was 8.62±7.71 (1.77-36) months. We analyzed anamnestic, clinical and radiological data. Radiological data was compared with diagnostic findings in 20 patients with scaphocephaly. Both groups were comparable in age, gender and cranial index. RESULTS: We present clinical and radiological signs, as well as algorithm for differential diagnosis between scaphocephaly and dolichocephaly. CONCLUSION: There are objective difficulties in differential diagnosis between scaphocephaly following sagittal synostosis and dolichocephalic head deformities. In most cases, we cannot establish the cause of congenital forms of dolichocephaly. The most likely causes may be pre- and postnatal compressive and positional effects. Ultrasound of skull sutures is preferable for differential diagnosis between these abnormalities. Correction of dolichocephaly can be carried out according to aesthetic indications with individual cranial orthoses.