Microscopic minimally invasive approach to nonsyndromic craniosynostosis.

Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective study was to present the results of the authors' microscopic minimally invasive approach in the treatment of nonsyndromic craniosynostosis.

Methods: From 2001 to 2007, the authors treated a cohort of 67 infants with nonsyndromic sagittal, unicoronal, bicoronal, and metopic craniosynostosis, either with the microscopic (n = 40) or the open (n = 27) approach. In the microscopic approach, incisions were placed over the premature suture, and using a surgical microscope, the appropriate synostectomy was performed.

Long-term treatment effectiveness of molding helmet therapy in the correction of posterior deformational plagiocephaly: a five-year follow-up.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of helmet therapy in the correction of deformational plagiocephaly and to assess the early occlusal abnormalities seen in these patients.

Design: A prospective study with blinded measurements.

Patients: Twenty-eight patients with deformational plagiocephaly who were treated with molding helmet therapy with at least 5 years of follow-up.

Microscopic approach to craniosynostosis.

The purpose of this study is to describe a minimally invasive approach using a microscope and the subsequent helmet therapy. The authors have treated 14 patients with the microscopic technique between May 2001 and November 2003. In this group of patients, there were 3 females and 11 males with an average age of 10.

Nonsynostotic scaphocephaly: the so-called sticky sagittal suture.

Object: Scaphocephaly is a common craniofacial abnormality that results from craniosynostosis of the sagittal suture. The authors have treated a group of infants who presented with nonsynostotic scaphocephaly, or a so-called sticky sagittal suture. The purpose of this study was to describe these patients with nonsynostotic scaphocephaly, the natural history of the disease, and its treatment.

Molding helmet therapy in the treatment of brachycephaly and plagiocephaly.

The purpose of this study was to compare the use of molding helmet therapy in the treatment of positional brachycephaly and posterior positional plagiocephaly. Four hundred twenty-eight children with positional brachycephaly or plagiocephaly were included in this study. In this group of patients, 132 (32%) were treated with positioning alone.

Molding helmet therapy in the management of sagittal synostosis.

The current surgical treatment of sagittal craniosynostosis often fails to produce a normal cephalic index; however, recent reports of early endoscopic suture release and postoperative helmet therapy promise improved cranial symmetry. The role of helmet therapy is critical in this approach, but there are few reports on the use of helmet therapy after craniosynostosis surgery. The authors present a retrospective review comparing the results of surgery alone versus surgery and postoperative banding in treating children diagnosed with sagittal synostosis.