Neurodevelopment of infants with single-suture craniosynostosis: presurgery comparisons with case-matched controls.
BACKGROUND
The hypothesized association between single-suture craniosynostosis and neurodevelopment remains unclear, given the methodologic limitations of previous studies, most notably the absence of control groups.


METHODS
Standardized measures were used to assess the neurodevelopment of 125 matched case-control pairs shortly after cases were first diagnosed with isolated fusions of the sagittal, metopic, lambdoid, or right or left coronal sutures. Participants varied in age from 2 to 24 months.


RESULTS
Cases had significantly lower mean standardized scores than controls on measures of cognitive ability and motor functioning (p < 0.02). These differences were unaffected by the location of synostosis, age of diagnosis, infant sex, and maternal IQ. Measures of early language functions revealed no group differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Before cranioplasty, single-suture craniosynostosis is associated with modest but reliable neurodevelopmental delays that cannot be attributed to maternal intelligence and family sociodemographic variables. Follow-up of this sample will determine the predictive significance of these delays. In the meantime, routine neurodevelopmental screening of infants with isolated craniosynostosis is recommended.
Speltz
Matthew L
ML
Seattle, Wash.; Chicago and Westchester, Ill.; St. Louis, Mo.; and Atlanta, Ga. From the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Epidemiology, and Pediatrics, University of Washington; Outpatient Child Psychiatry Department and Children's Craniofacial Center, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center; Department of Clinical Surgery, Northwestern University; Cleft Lip and Palate Institute; Department of Psychology, St. Louis Children's Hospital; and Department of Neuropsychology, Children's Health Care of Atlanta.
Kapp-Simon
Kathy
K
Collett
Brent
B
Keich
Yona
Y
Gaither
Rebecca
R
Cradock
Mary M
MM
Buono
Lauren
L
Cunningham
Michael L
ML
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003393:Cranial Sutures; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013536:Suture Techniques