[Treatment of sagital craniosynostosis (scaphocephaly) by means of immediate surgical correction].

INTRODUCTION

From 1983 to 1994, a total of 86 patients having scaphocephaly were studied and treated in our Craniofacial Unit. The present study involves 60 patients treated between 1988 and 1994 which were operated upon with the same surgical technique and that which is currently being used in our department. The surgical approach and results are analyzed.

CLINICAL MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients having scaphocephaly represented 47.51% out of the total 181 children having craniosynostosis and craniofacial synostosis during this period. All of the patients were studied with computerized tomography, with 10 of them having continuous monitoring of their intracranial pressure. All children in this series were treated according to a new surgical technique that achieves an "immediate correction" of the malformation.

RESULTS

No patient had abnormal neurological findings and intracranial pressure (ICP) was within normal limits in 0 out of 10 patients having continuous ICP monitoring.

CONCLUSIONS

The minimal complications and the excellent cosmetic results have resulted in an optimal surgical technique. The importance of an early diagnosis and surgical treatment of sagittal synostosis is emphasized.