Fluctuating asymmetry and developmental instability in sagittal craniosynostosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether premature sagittal craniosynostosis is associated with developmental instability in the skull by analyzing fluctuating asymmetry in skull shape.


METHODS
Cranial shape was quantified by collecting coordinate data from landmarks located on three-dimensional reconstructions of preoperative computed tomography (CT) images of 22 children with sagittal craniosynostosis and 22 age-matched controls. A fluctuating asymmetry application of Euclidean distance matrix analysis (EDMA) was used to quantify and compare asymmetry in cranial shape using these landmark data.


RESULTS
In contrast to expectations, the sagittal craniosynostosis group did not show a statistically significant increase in the overall level of fluctuating asymmetry relative to the control group. However, we discerned statistically significant localized increases in fluctuating asymmetry in the sagittal craniosynostosis group at pterion and the anterior clinoid processes (alpha = .05). We also determined a significant correlation of fluctuating asymmetry values between the two groups (r = .71).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that there is no evidence of a role for system-wide developmental instability in the etiology of nonsyndromic sagittal craniosynostosis. However, the localized evidence of asymmetry at the anterior clinoid processes in the sagittal synostosis group suggests an association with the tracts of dura mater that attach there.
Deleon
Valerie Burke
VB
John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. vdeleon@jhmi.edu
Richtsmeier
Joan T
JT
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D009915:Orbit / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D010294:Parietal Bone / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D015050:Zygoma / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology