A combined frontoorbital and occipital advancement technique for use in total calvarial reconstruction

Abstract

The management of infants with bilateral coronal synostosis and resultant brachyturricephaly poses a significant therapeutic challenge. The application of total calvarial reconstruction to the treatment of this problem has represented a major recent innovation that has substantially improved the cosmetic results in this patient population. However, rigid fixation of the reconstructed calvaria is often required to maintain the correction achieved and to provide protection for the underlying brain. The requirement of extensive fixation constitutes a significant disadvantage for the use of this procedure in infants and young children. In this report, the authors describe an approach to the treatment of this problem that incorporates a series of tongue-in-groove osteotomies to provide increased stability to advancements of both the frontal and occipital regions in conjunction with cranial height reduction, while minimizing the need for metallic fixation. With this approach, the reconstructed skull is sturdy enough to resist the compressive force applied by the weight of the child's head immediately after surgery, but retains the ability to expand progressively. The authors have found the cosmetic results to be extremely gratifying. In this article they present their experience with this technique in seven children.