Intracranial pressure changes in craniostenosis.

Intracranial pressure changes occurring in patients with craniostenosis were studied by continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure in 20 children. Although clinical or radiologic evidence of intracranial hypertension was present in only one patient, 13 (65%) had persistent or episodic raised intracranial pressure. Intracranial hypertension occurred with involvement of both single and multiple sutures and in four of six patients with hydrocephalus and craniostenosis. Recordings after surgical treatment in nine patients revealed that several months elapsed before intracranial pressure improved significantly or returned to normal, despite apparently adequate bony decompression. This study confirms that continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure adds significantly to clinical assessment in determining the need for, and the efficacy of, surgical treatment in craniostenosis.