Physiologic closure time of the metopic suture in South Australian infants from 3D CT scans.

Unlabelled: Metopic synostosis is a craniofacial condition characterised by the premature fusion of the metopic suture. This early fusion restricts frontal bone growth [17] and has significant impacts on the developing infant during a critical phase of rapid growth and development [4]. Diagnosis of the condition is usually achieved by clinical assessment, followed by a three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) scan, verifying premature metopic suture fusion.

Purpose: This retrospective study aims to investigate the timing of metopic suture fusion in the developing infant in an Australian subpopulation.

Methods: The study evaluates metopic suture fusion in 258 cranial 3D CT scans of children aged 0-24 months over a 5-year period (2011-2016), scanned at Women's and Children's Hospital.

Results: The findings suggest that the age range over which physiologic metopic suture fusion occurs is larger than previously reported.

Conclusions: The approximate range for physiologic fusion was found to be 3-19 months and patients with fusion within this range can be considered normal. Complete suture fusion is expected by 19 months. Additionally, results indicate suture fusion prior to 3 months is abnormal and diagnostically indicative of metopic synostosis.