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. 2021 Sep;185(9):2670-2675.
doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62256. Epub 2021 May 19.

Postoperative helmet therapy following fronto-orbital advancement and cranial vault remodeling in patients with unilateral coronal synostosis

Erik M Wolfswinkel  1   2 , Pedro A Sanchez-Lara  3 , Laya Jacob  1   2 , Mark M Urata  1   2
Affiliations

Postoperative helmet therapy following fronto-orbital advancement and cranial vault remodeling in patients with unilateral coronal synostosis

Erik M Wolfswinkel et al. Am J Med Genet A. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

Out of all the synostotic corrective surgeries, fronto-orbital advancement and cranial vault remodeling for patients with unilateral coronal synostosis is one of the hardest to maintain symmetric and proportional correction without some amount of relapse. Over the course of 20 years operating on these patients, the senior author has made multiple adjustments to compensate for relapse asymmetry, including overcorrection on the affected side, increased points of fixation, periosteal release, and scalp expansion with galeal scoring to minimize tension of the closure. As a result of these interventions, we have seen improved immediate results following surgery. However, we have continued to note clinically significant relapse postoperatively. As such, we have started to implement postoperative helmet therapy (PHT) to help maintain the surgical correction, improve secondary brachycephaly, and increase overall symmetry. PHT is a reasonable low-risk complement to fronto-orbital advancement and cranial vault remolding. Clinically, PHT appears to help minimize relapse and improve overall head symmetry. Further investigation and increased patient enrollment are required to determine the true benefits of PHT in this patient population.

Keywords: cranial index; cranial molding orthosis; cranial vault asymmetry index; craniosynostosis; fronto-orbital advancement; postoperative helmet therapy.

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References

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