title: Armadillo cranioplasty for expansion and remodeling in craniosynostosis.
abstract: Craniosynostosis is typically treated in the first year of life, when osteogenic potential is high and residual obligate skull defects heal. Delayed reconstruction can result in persistent skull defects because of diminished osteogenic potential. Adequately expanding the cranium yet minimizing residual skull defects in older patients presents a conundrum. Although secondary cranioplasty can be performed, primary cortical bone coverage is preferred. The authors present a technique of cranial expansion by sliding stairstep osteotomies, thus preventing residual skull defects when treating craniosynostosis at an advanced age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, IV.
authors.affiliation: Providence, R.I. From the Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School; and the Department of Plastic Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Helena O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery*