[Radiometric study of postoperative development of skull shape and cranial volume in children with craniosynostoses].
Preoperative CT diagnostics seem indispensible for evaluation of hard and soft tissue situation in children with craniosynostoses. Regular postoperative control is limited because of general anaesthesia and radiation exposure. Therefore, cranial growth of these children is hardly metrically examined. A method is looked for to replace CT for this indication and to allow differentiated analysis of skull shape and intracranial volume. 15 children (7 trigonocephalies, 4 plagiocephalies, 4 syndromal craniosynostoses) were operated on using a standardized bilateral frontoorbital advancement. Using conventional pre- and postoperative skull roentgenograms, a craniometric analysis of skull length, height and broadth according to the modified method of Ebel [9] and Schmid et al. [22] was carried out for assessment of the skull shape and the intracranial volume. Skull shape and volume showed good development (depending on the synostosis form). The bilateral frontoorbital advancement proved to be an effective operation method. Validation of results was given by comparison with normal and patient populations known from the published literature. The presented easy, safe and exposure-reduced method of analysis should be used regularly in preoperative diagnostics and routine postoperative control of craniosynostoses.
Kovács
A
A
Klinik und Poliklinik für Kiefer- und Plastische Gesichtschirurgie, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/Main.
Marquardt
G
G
D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome