Early endoscopy-assisted treatment of multiple-suture craniosynostosis.

AIMS: Endoscopy-assisted treatment of craniosynostosis constitutes a novel modality for management of complex craniosynostoses. In this work, the authors aimed to assess the safety and advantages of performing these techniques in patients under 4 months of age.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our study group comprised patients aged 4 months or younger with multiple-suture craniosynostosis undergoing endoscopy-assisted cranial remodeling.

RESULTS: Between March 2007 and June 2011, we treated seven patients with combined affected sutures, five with unclassified nonsyndromic craniosynostosis, one with Muenke's and another with Crouzon's syndromes. One child with a cloverleaf skull had a family history of craniosynostosis. Mean age at diagnosis was 35.3 days (1-90 days). The most frequent combinations of involved sutures were sagittal and bicoronal suture (n = 3) and bilateral coronal suture (n = 3). Mean age at treatment was 62.8 days (13-109 days). Blood transfusion was required in only two patients. The mean length of hospital stay was 2.3 days (2-4 days). Mean follow-up period was 20.14 months (7-46 months). No patient presented ventriculomegaly or Chiari I malformation in follow-up studies, and only one showed a vertical disposition of the posterior fossa. No patient presented complications related to the procedures. A good result (Barlett I) was observed at 3- and 6-month follow-up visits. Four patients followed up for more than 1 year did not develop craniolacunae.

CONCLUSION: Endoscopy-assisted surgery for correction of craniosynostosis in children under 4 months represents a valid and safe management option. Early treatment may contribute to prevent the development of associated ventriculomegaly and Chiari I malformation.