Standardized evaluation and documentation of findings in patients with craniosynostosis

Traditional Versus Virtual Surgery Planning of the Fronto-Orbital Unit in Anterior Cranial Vault Remodeling Surgery

BACKGROUND

Craniosynostosis correction surgery is a complex procedure, which involves complete dismantling and reassembly of the cranial vault components. The traditional planning method for these surgeries results in increased intra-operative time owing to its highly subjective nature. The advent of virtual surgical planning (VSP) platform has lead to a greater pre-operative insight and precision outcome in calvarial remodeling surgeries. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate intra-operative time and blood loss difference as a measure of surgical efficiency between VSP based template guided Anterior Cranial Vault Reconstruction (ACVR) with Fronto-Orbital Unit Advancement (FOUA) and the traditional surgeries.

METHODS

Data were collected from patients who underwent ACVR with FOUA in our unit. Patients were divided into 2 groups, Template Fronto-Orbital Unit (TFOU) group and Non-template Fronto-Orbital Unit (NFOU) group. In TFOU group, Virtual planning along with fabrication of Template guide was carried out. Patients undergoing ACVR using traditional techniques were categorized as NFOU group. A comparative prospective analysis was carried out in terms of Intra-operative time duration and blood loss. Student 't' test was used to compare the means of the 2 groups.

RESULTS

A total of 10 patients were included in the present study. There were 5 control (NFOU) and 5 TFOU cases. There was a significant decrease in the operating time in TFOU group compared to the NFOU group. TFOU group also showed reduced intra-operative bleed compared to the NFOU group.

CONCLUSION

Virtual surgical planning (VSP) and 3D modeling with prefabricated template guide augurs reliable outcomes and portends the possibility of lesser intra-operative time. It is a valuable tool, which offers enormous benefits in terms of precise pre-surgical planning with predictive results.

3D visualization and simulation of frontoorbital advancement in metopic synostosis

OBJECTIVES

Current multislice computed tomography (CT) technology can be used for diagnosis and surgical planning applying computer-assisted three-dimensional (3D) visualization and surgical simulation. The usefulness of a technique for surgical simulation of frontoorbital advancement is demonstrated here in a child with metopic synostosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Postprocessing of multi-slice CT data was performed using the software 3D slicer. 3D models were created for the purpose of surgical simulation. These allow planning the course of the osteotomies and individually placing the different bony fragments by an assigned matrix to simulate the surgical result. Photo documentation was obtained before and after surgery. Surgical simulation of the procedure allowed determination of the osteotomy course and assessment of the positioning of the individual bony fragments.

CONCLUSIONS

Computer-assisted postprocessing and simulation is a useful tool for surgical planning in craniosynostosis surgery. The time-effort for segmentation currently limits the routine clinical use of this technique.

Aesthetic Results of Fronto-Orbital Correction in Trigonocephaly

The aesthetic results of craniofacial surgery for trigonocephaly were evaluated by a panel assessment using a scoring system based on deformities typical for this type of craniosynostosis. In this retrospective study pre-and postoperative photographs of 45 patients were scored for items typical for trigonocephaly: shape of the forehead, hypotelorism, and temporal depression. Each item was quantified as normal or absent (0 points), a mild deformity (1 point) or a severe deformity (2 points). Preoperatively, the most obvious deformity was temporal depression and this remained to be the most obvious deformity after surgery. There was a good overall correction of the presenting deformities with a decline in the mean score preoperatively from 4.49-1.13 postoperatively. There was a significant weak correlation between pre- and postoperative score only for hypotelorism. This indicates that the severity of the initial disease is not a major contributor to the final surgical result. Furthermore, surgical outcome seemed to be stable over time and was not influenced by the timing of surgery when surgery was scheduled between the ages of 6-15 months. Early craniofacial correction for trigonocephaly results in a stable, acceptable aesthetic result on which the initial deformity has little effect. The most common associated craniofacial characteristics are well- to very well-corrected when surgery is performed within the first 6-15 months. Main focus of deformity on short and long term remains the temporal depression, and thus requires extra attention during surgery.

Long-term aesthetic results of frontoorbital correction for frontal plagiocephaly

OBJECT

Long-term aesthetic results of craniofacial surgery for frontal plagiocephaly were evaluated by two observers who used a scoring system based on deformities typical for this type of craniosynostosis.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, pre- and postoperative photographs of 59 patients were scored for items typical of frontal plagiocephaly: shape of the forehead, orbital dystopia, and temporal depression. Each item was quantified as normal or absent (0 points), a mild deformity (1 point) or a severe deformity (2 points). Preoperatively, the most obvious deformity was the shape of the forehead, whereas postoperatively temporal retrusion was the main deformity. There was a good overall correction of the presenting deformities, with a decline in the mean score from 3.7 to 0.86. There was a statistically significant weak correlation between pre- and postoperative scores for orbital dystopia alone. This finding indicates that the severity of the initial disease is not a major contributor to the final result. Furthermore, the surgical outcome seemed to be stable over time and was not influenced by the timing of surgery if it took place when the children were between 6 and 15 months of age.

CONCLUSIONS

Early craniofacial correction for frontal plagiocephaly results in a stable, acceptable aesthetic outcome on which the initial deformity has little effect. The most common associated craniofacial characteristics are corrected well to very well when surgery is performed within the first 6 to 15 months of life. The main focus of the deformity in both the short and long-term remains the temporal depression, and thus it requires extra attention during surgery.