Craniosynostosis of the Sphenofrontal Suture: Definition of the Main Signs of Craniofacial Deformity.

AIMS

The aim of this study is to compare clinical features of sphenofrontal craniosynostosis (SFC) and unilateral coronary craniosynostosis.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

This was a retrospective study with two groups of patients with sphenofrontal and coronary craniosynostosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study of the 1999-2016 archive data in Russian Children's Clinical Hospital. Ninety-five patients were diagnosed with frontal plagiocephaly. Eighty-three had deformations of unilateral craniosynostosis of coronary suture, 12 had premature closures of sphenofrontal suture. The age at the time of diagnosis varied from 5 months to 2, 5 years.

RESULTS

SFC is featured by ipsilateral flattening of forehead and supraorbital margin, and ipsilateral dystopia of supraorbital margin downward. X-ray signs are the closure of sphenofrontal suture on the lesion side with open and symmetrically located remaining skull sutures and contralateral deviation of the midline of the ethmoid.

CONCLUSIONS

SFC distinguishes from other plagiocephalias by following signs: supraorbital margin on the affected side is shifted downward; tip of the nose is displaced toward the affected side, root of the nose toward the healthy side. These signs facilitate correct diagnosis and treatment tactics.