Postoperative nursing care of the endoscopic nonsyndromic craniosynostosis surgery patient.

Craniosynostosis affects 1 in 2,100 children. The current methods for the treatment of craniosynostosis at Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, are open cranial vault remodeling and the minimally invasive endoscopic technique. The primary advantages of the minimally invasive endoscopic technique are decreased operative time, blood loss, swelling, incision size, and inpatient hospital stay. Postoperative helmet therapy is a necessary part of the treatment for the refinement of the surgical result. The purpose of this article is to present current inpatient and outpatient nursing management considerations in the care of infants undergoing the minimally invasive endoscopic technique for the treatment of craniosynostosis.