Complete correction of severe scaphocephaly: the Melbourne method of total vault remodeling

Abstract

Background: A new method of total calvarial remodeling for correcting significant scaphocephaly is described, and experience with the first 30 consecutive patients is presented.

Methods: Thirty consecutive patients (22 boys and eight girls) with moderate to severe scaphocephaly who underwent total calvarial remodeling using the Melbourne technique were analyzed retrospectively. Mean age at surgery was 7.5 months (range, 4 to 18 months). All had significant frontal and occipital deformities, bitemporal narrowing, a low cranial index, an anteriorly located vertex, and a narrow posteroinferiorly sloping posterior cranium. Clinical photographs, computed tomographic imaging, and cranial index were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. A sufficient follow-up period in 17 patients enabled the measurement of changes in cranial indices.

Results: A dramatic improvement in head shape was confirmed subjectively by clinical examination and photographs and, in 17 patients, objectively by analyses of the cranial indices. In these 17 patients, mean preoperative cranial index was 64.6 percent preoperatively (range, 56 to 69.3 percent) and increased to a mean of 77.5 percent postoperatively (range, 72 to 81 percent). The mean increase in cranial index was 12.9 percent (range, 9.5 to 19 percent). Among the 30 patients, overall complications were major in one patient (3.3 percent) (presumed air embolus) and minor in three (10 percent).

Conclusions: The Melbourne technique of total vault remodeling consistently achieves a virtually normal head shape. After analysis of the first 30 cases, the authors recommend this as their technique of choice for severe scaphocephaly when the full constellation of deformities is present.