Operative technique for calvarial reconstruction of sagittal craniosynostosis.

AIM The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of the developed by the authors surgical technique in patients with a radiographically confirmed diagnosis of sagittal craniosynostosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS 34 children with scaphocephaly underwent surgical treatment with the authors' operative technique. Quantitative assessments of the operative results, based on the preoperative and postoperative (1 year after the procedure) measurements of the cephalic index (cranial width / cranial length x 100), were performed in all patients. RESULTS The presented original authors' surgical technique resulted in a significantly good skull shape immediately after the procedure. The mean preoperative cephalic index was 64.5, and the mean immediate postoperative index- 75.0, yielding a mean improvement of 10.5. There were no intraoperative complications. One case required a small postoperative correction. CONCLUSION The presented operative technique provides immediate and significant surgical correction of the head shape, demonstrated by quantitative measurements using the cephalic index and by photographs.