Long-Term Assessment of Suturectomy in Trigonocephaly and Anterior Plagiocephaly.
BACKGROUND
Techniques for treating trigonocephaly and anterior plagiocephaly have evolved from the initial suturectomy technique to frontal cranioplasty. The authors evaluated the suturectomy technique in adolescent patients with these craniosynostoses, by carrying out a retrospective, long-term assessment at the end of growth.


METHODS
Patients with anterior plagiocephaly or trigonocephaly were included. All had undergone coronal or metopic suturectomy with bilateral orbitofrontal bandeau resection between 1997 and 2005. The primary endpoint was the Whitaker classification. The secondary endpoints were anthropometric measurement, assessments of the bone defects on computed tomography scan, and the comments of patients and their relatives concerning the final skull outcome. Patients with anterior plagiocephaly also attended an ophthalmological consultation.


RESULTS
Seventeen patients were included in the study: 8 with anterior plagiocephaly and 9 with trigonocephaly. Mean age at the time of surgery was 6.91 months. Mean age at the time of craniofacial consultation was 14 years. Fourteen patients (82%) were classified as Whitaker Class III and IV, corresponding to poor esthetic results and persistent bone defects. Seven patients requested further surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that suturectomy seems to yield poor esthetic results in the long term and patients should be followed up throughout adolescence to correct any craniofacial deformities.
Craniofacial Unit, Tours University Hospital, Tours, France.
Aline
A
Joly
Arnaud
A
Paré
Aurélie
A
Sallot
Sophie
S
Arsène
Antoine
A
Listrat
Nadine
N
Travers
Dominique
D
Goga
Boris
B
Laure
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D059041:Plagiocephaly / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed