PubMed · 9086893
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A M Sadove. 1996. Positional plagiocephaly.. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001665-199601000-00003
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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation is to elucidate the sonographic features of abnormal major cranial sutures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight excised synostosed suture specimens were evaluated. The high-resolution sonographic appearance was correlated with the histological section, plain radiographs, CT and MRI. Diastatic and molded sutures were also evaluated with sonography and compared with the normal cranial suture appearance. RESULTS: Synostosed sutures demonstrated one or more of the following features: (a) loss of echo-poor fibrous gap between bony plates (five sagittal and coronal synostoses); (b) irregular thickened inner sutural margin (three lambdoid synostoses); (c) loss of bevelled edge (one lambdoid synostosis); (d) asymmetric anterior fontanelle (one coronal synostosis). Cranial molding results in an overlap of echogenic bony plates. Sutural width (the distance between bony plates) is increased in cases of elevated intracranial pressure. CONCLUSION: Sonography is an inexpensive, radiation-free modality which can confirm synostosis versus molding versus an underlying intracranial lesion as a cause of plagiocephaly. The high-resolution sonographic images also provide a relatively easy means to assess sutural width and may provide information in regard to increased intracranial pressure.
The cause of craniosynostosis continues to elude researchers. Although several studies have looked at the ultrastructure of normal suture closure, no previous studies have examined the microarchitecture of the synostotic suture. Our goal was to assess the scanning electron microscope (SEM) as a viable and useful tool in examining craniosynostosis. Our hypothesis is that the SEM is a powerful analytical tool that can evaluate nonsynostotic, partial synostotic, and complete synostotic cranial sutures. We analyzed the cranial suture of 3 human infants with nonsyndromic sagittal craniosynostosis. The specimens were separated into three groups, which included regions of partial and complete synostosis and a region of open suture. Histological examination provided cellular and tissue data about craniosynostosis, whereas the SEM provided detailed information regarding the trabecular microarchitecture of the synostosed suture. The SEM produced quality images of complete and partially synostotic sutures and open sutures. At low magnification, the SEM characterized the general bony microarchitecture of cranial sutures in a manner different from, but complementary to, standard histological sections. At higher magnification, the SEM allowed us a look at the cellular population of craniosynostotic sutures in a way that surpasses standard light microscopy. The SEM is an excellent tool for the study of craniosynostosis and has proved invaluable in our ability to evaluate the microarchitecture and cellular population of the fusing suture. We believe we have proven our hypothesis by demonstrating the SEM to be a powerful analytical tool that can evaluate nonsynostotic, partial synostotic, and complete synostotic cranial sutures.
OBJECT: The authors sought to minimize scalp incisions, blood loss, and operative time by using endoscopically assisted strip craniectomies and barrel-stave osteotomies to treat infants with sagittal suture synostosis. METHODS: Four patients, aged 2, 4, 9, and 12 weeks, who presented with scaphocephaly underwent endoscopic midline craniectomies through small midline scalp incisions. The mean operative time for the procedure was 1.68 hours (range 1.15-2.8 hours); the mean blood loss was 54.2 ml (range 12-150 ml). Three patients did not require blood transfusions and were discharged within 24 hours. Postoperatively, all patients were fitted with custom cranial molding helmets. Follow-up evaluation ranged between 8 and 15 months. All patients had successful correction of their scaphocephaly with no mortalities, morbidities, or complications. CONCLUSIONS: The use of endoscopic techniques for early correction of sagittal synostosis is safe; decreases blood loss, operative time, and hospitalization costs; and provides excellent early surgical results.