Craniofacial growth disturbance after skull base and associated suture synostoses in the newborn chacma baboon: a preliminary report.

The purpose of this study was to create craniofacial growth disturbances via synostoses of sutures of the cranial base, as well as of other various selected sutures of the anterior cranial and posterior facial structures. Twelve sutures, single or in combination, were obliterated by means of autogenous bone transplantation in twenty-five baby baboons (Papio ursinus). The data obtained from the sacrificed animals were qualitatively analyzed. The results indicated that synostosis of any of the selected sutures does lead to craniofacial growth disturbances. Furthermore, no specific synostosed suture could be identified that might cause a specific type of craniofacial dysostosis, although unilateral facial deformities always occurred after unilateral suture synostosis.