title: Spring-mediated cranioplasty in patients with multiple-suture synostosis and cloverleaf skull deformity.
abstract: The concept of using implantable springs in craniofacial surgery was developed to dynamically remodel the cranium at the postoperative period. Springs have been shown as an effective treatment modality especially for single-suture synostosis patients and had several advantages over traditional techniques. This report presents 2 patients with cloverleaf skull and 1 patient with multiple-suture synostosis, with severe lacunae, who showed signs of increased intracranial pressure. Decompression and reconstruction were performed using implantable springs after Pi craniectomy. In all patients, lacunae disappeared and calvarial bones ossified almost completely. The shape of the patients' cranium improved as well. Implantable springs could be a useful addition to the armamentarium of every craniofacial surgeon.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. gokhantuncbilek@gmail.com
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tunçbilek
authors.forename: Aycan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaykçoğlu
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Nejat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akalan
mesh_terms: D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome