Citation

Gilardino MS, Jandali S, Whitaker LA, Bartlett SP. J. Craniofac. Surg. 2011; 22(4): 1284-1286.

Affiliation

Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada; and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/SCS.0b013e31821c6b2d

PMID

21772197

Abstract

BACKGROUND: : Craniofrontal reshaping (CR) for the treatment of craniosynostosis results in a temporary cranial defect due to the advancement and/or expansion of the supraorbital and frontal bones. The goal of the present study was to determine whether the incidence traumatic brain injury (TBI) was increased in patients after CR as a result of this breach in skull integrity. METHODS: : We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients with a diagnosis of craniosynostosis who underwent CR between 1997 and 2007 at our institution. The incidence of TBI (defined as a computed tomography-documented brain or skull injury or loss of consciousness) was determined during a 2-year postoperative follow-up period. Patients older than 1 year at the time of surgery, or those with less than 2 years of follow-up after surgery, were excluded. RESULTS: : A total of 396 patients met the inclusion criteria. The incidence of TBI was zero (95% confidence interval, 0-760/100,000). CONCLUSIONS: : The estimated incidence of TBI after CR surgery is between 0 and 760 per 100,000 patients in our clinic population. These data indicate that although CR may be associated with a slightly increased risk of TBI while the skull is healing, the absolute incidence of such injury remains extremely rare.

Language: en