Craniosynostosis Surgery

Surgical management for craniosynostosis is based on the suture(s) involved, the age of the child, and the individual needs for each patient.

The most commonly recommended options for treatment are the following:

Strip craniectomy

The common treatment approach at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) includes a formal cranial vault expansion and reshaping procedure, but a strip craniectomy can be used as a preliminary procedure to reduce pressure in very young children (typically less than 6 months of age) with multiple sutures involved.

A strip craniectomy is typically performed in conjunction with a pediatric neurosurgeon. The procedure generally takes approximately two to three hours. After surgery, your child will stay at the hospital for recovery and follow-up care. Most children stay for an average of three to five days.

Additional surgeries including vault expansion and reshaping procedures will be scheduled according to your child’s recovery and response to this preliminary procedure.

Sagittal springs

Also known as cranial spring surgery.

The use of sagittal springs with strip craniectomy may be recommended for sagittal synostosis if the child is younger than 5 months at the time of initial surgery. The surgery involves a strip craniectomy and placement of two to three stainless steel springs to help increase the amount of room for the brain to grow, improve the skull shape, and reduce the risk of the sagittal suture closing again. Springs are an effective “minimally invasive” surgery that can be done through small incisions in the scalp, limit blood loss such that only a minority of patients require blood transfusion, and usually only results in a one-day hospital stay. There is an additional surgery approximately three months later to remove the springs.

Pre-operative infant with sagittal synostosis resulting in a long and narrow head shape. Bottom photos: Post-operative after cranial spring placement in infancy, now with improved width and round shape of the skull.

Cranial molding helmet therapy may be used before surgery to limit the head shape progression associated with sagittal synostosis. Helmet therapy may also be used after spring removal to further redirect the skull growth to a more typical pattern.

Procedure demonstration of sagittal spring placement

Demonstration of the bony cuts of the craniectomy and placement of sagittal springs. This procedure is used for correction of sagittal suture synostosis in early infancy.

Fronto-orbital advancement /reshaping

Fronto-orbital advancement may be used in the correction of metopic, coronal, or multi-suture craniosynostosis. It involves exposure of the upper eye socket and forehead through an ear-to-ear incision. The forehead bone is then removed with the assistance of the neurosurgeon. The misshapen upper eye socket is then cut free, reshaped, and replaced in a new position, held in place with resorbable plates and screws. The forehead is then reshaped and affixed to the upper eye socket.

This procedure offers eye protection by expanding the anterior skull to create room for brain growth, as well as reshapes the upper eye socket and forehead. For children with eye exposure, or ocular issues, the fronto-orbital advancement is a first-stage procedure. It is otherwise delayed as long as possible after posterior vault reconstruction and may be performed at an older age depending on other surgical procedures. A fronto-orbital advancement may be avoided for some diagnoses and instead managed with a monobloc with halo distraction at an older age.

A fronto-orbital advancement surgery takes approximately four to five hours, followed by a hospital stay of four to five days for monitoring and recovery. A surgical drain will be removed prior to discharge from the hospital. Additional surgeries may be needed as the child grows and further develops.

Top photos: Pre-operative infant with bicoronal synostosis resulting in a brachycephalic head shape that is flat with a tall forehead. Bottom: Post-operative after bilateral fronto-orbital advancement with improved expansion of the front of the skull. The bony gap seen will mostly fill in over time with cranial bone graft. Of note, this patient ultimately required further surgery to expand the posterior dimension of the skull.

Top photos: Pre-operative infant with metopic synostosis resulting in a triangular shape forehead with narrowing at the temples. Bottom: Post-operative after bilateral fronto-orbital advancement with improvement in forehead contour and shape.

Procedure demonstration of fronto-orbital advancements

Demonstration of the bony cuts of a bilateral frontal orbital advancement are shown in red (left). On the right is a demonstration of the fixation of the reshaped frontal bones, held in place with resorbable plates and screws. Cranial bone graft cells are placed in the bony gap to help remodel this gap. This procedure is used most often for coronal synostosis and when the forehead is of a typical shape. From AO Surgery Reference (www.surgeryreference.aofoundation.org). Copyright by AO Foundation, Switzerland. Reprinted with permission.

Demonstration of the bony cuts of a bilateral frontal orbital advancement and broadening are shown

in red (left). On the right is a demonstration of the fixation of the reshaped frontal bones by resorbable screws and plates. A slurry of cranial bone cells is placed in the large bony gap to help remodel the bony gap. Used for correction of metopic synostosis, this procedure requires a reshaping of the forehead shape and therefore the extra need for fixation at the center of the forehead. From AO Surgery Reference (www.surgeryreference.aofoundation.org). Copyright by AO Foundation, Switzerland. Reprinted with permission.

Demonstration of the bony cuts of a bilateral frontal orbital advancement and broadening are shown in red (left). On the right is a demonstration of the fixation of the reshaped frontal bones, held in place with resorbable plates and screws. Cranial bone graft cells are placed in the bony gap to help remodel this gap. Used for correction of metopic synostosis, this procedure requires a reshaping of the forehead shape and therefore extra need for fixation at the center of the forehead. From AO Surgery Reference (www.surgeryreference.aofoundation.org). Copyright by AO Foundation, Switzerland. Reprinted with permission.

Demonstration of the bony cuts of a unilateral frontal orbital advancement (left-sided in this example)

are shown in red (left). On the right is a demonstration of the fixation of the reshaped frontal bones, held in place with resorbable plates and screws. Cranial bone graft cells are placed in the bony gap to help remodel this gap. Though not used at CHOP, this procedure may be used for unilateral coronal synostosis and when the forehead deformation is not severe, thus not needing bilateral reshaping. From AO Surgery Reference (www.surgeryreference.aofoundation.org). Copyright by AO Foundation, Switzerland. Reprinted with permission.

Cranial vault remodeling and reconstruction

Cranial vault remodeling, commonly called cranial vault reconstruction, involves the reshaping of cranial bones in a single stage surgery. This surgery is often used when more than one cranial suture closes prematurely. It involves a coronal (ear to ear) incision, followed by removal of the cranial bone by neurosurgery in the area that has been growth restricted. This procedure can be done regionally in the skull (for example, posterior skull remodeling, middle vault expansion, or anterior vault remodeling) or can be done to the total vault (whole skull).

After the bone is removed, the bone is reshaped and expanded. The reshaped skull is bolstered with a cranial bone graft and secured in place with resorbable plates or sutures to provide more room for brain growth and improvement in head shape. The surgery takes approximately four to five hours, followed by a hospital stay of four to five days for postoperative monitoring and recovery. After surgery, the child does not require cranial molding helmet therapy and can participate in sports without restriction when older.

Top photos: Pre-operative infant with sagittal synostosis resulting in a long and narrow head shape. Bottom: Post-operative following posterior vault reconstruction with improvement in skull width and overall shape.

Procedure demonstration of cranial vault reshaping and remodeling

Demonstration of the bony cuts of a posterior vault remodeling are shown in red (left). On the right is a demonstration of the fixation of the reshaped posterior vault bones, held in place with resorbable plates, screws, and sutures. In this example, treatment done for premature closure of the lambdoid suture.

Demonstration of the bony cuts of a posterior vault reshaping are shown in red (left). On the right is a demonstration of the fixation of the reshaped posterior vault bones, held in place with resorbable plates, screws, and sutures. In this example, treatment done for premature closure of the sagittal suture. Bilateral fronto-orbital advancement/reshaping may be required in a separate surgery if the anterior skull (front) is affected.

Demonstration of the bony cuts of a total cranial vault reshaping are shown in red (left). On the right is a demonstration of the direction of cranial vault expansion and shortening. In this example, treatment done for sagittal synostosis, but variation of this technique may be applied to various other forms of synostosis.

Posterior vault distraction osteogenesis

Posterior cranial vault distraction is a surgical procedure that expands the back of the skull by gradually stretching the bone and skin to expand the intracranial space and create new bone. CHOP has been a leader in instituting this procedure that has helped countless children.

Posterior cranial vault distraction is a less invasive surgery as compared to a formal open vault expansion and allows for significant expansion of the bone and soft tissue. The operation takes approximately two to three hours, with a hospital stay of three to five days. Starting three to five days after the procedure, your child’s surgeon will begin turning the distractors. This process will continue one to two times daily over the next two to three weeks, resulting in gradual expansion of the bone and soft tissue.

Caregivers continue turning the devices at home during the active distraction period, typically returning to the office weekly for skull X-rays and clinical examination. The distractors are then left in place for a period of consolidation to allow for solidification (hardening) of the new bone that was created.

Cranial distractors are removed in a second surgery approximately three months after the initial procedure.

Top photos: Pre-operative infant with coronal synostosis, resulting in an abnormal appearance of the orbits and forehead. Bottom: Post-operative following posterior vault reconstruction with placement of cranial distractors, consolidation period. Note the improved skull dimension from front to back. Distractors removed uneventfully in a second surgery several weeks later.

Procedure demonstration of posterior vault distraction

Demonstration of the bony cuts and placement of posterior vault distractors — From AO Surgery Reference. Copyright by AO Foundation, Switzerland. Reprinted with permission.

Demonstration of the bony cuts are shown in red and placement of posterior vault distractors (left). The green arrow represents the advancement that occurs with this procedure. This surgery is often used for correction of syndromic craniosynostosis given its ability to improve the shape and provide greater volume of expansion.

Final facial contouring

When your child is skeletally mature or done growing and all major osteotomies (bone cuts) are complete, final facial contouring may be needed to enhance the visual appearance and correct any remaining irregularities of the facial skeleton. Final contouring procedures including smoothing irregularities, reduction of contour abnormalities, adding bone grafts or bone substitutes, and re-suspending soft tissues.

Top photos: Patient following repair of metopic synostosis in infancy, residual forehead contour deformities. Bottom: Patient following final recontouring surgery, now with improved fullness of the temples and forehead shape.

Images of surgical treatment of craniosynostosis

Left: Pre-operative facial presentation of right unicoronal synostosis. Note restricted growth and asymmetry on the right side of the head and how the child’s right eye socket appears taller than the left and that the bridge of the nose is toward the right side of the child’s face. Right: Post-operative right unicoronal synostosis. Note improved height and symmetry of skull and face.

Left: Pre-operative right unicoronal synostosis. Note restricted growth and asymmetry on the right side of the head. Right: Post-operative right unicoronal synostosis. Note improved height and symmetry of skull and face

Left: Pre-operative patient with left unicoronal synostosis. Note elevated position of the eyebrow and Harlequin deformity of the patient’s left eye. Right: post-operative bilateral frontal orbital advancement with correction of the cranial synostosis and improved facial symmetry.

Pre-operative and post-operative comparison in patient with left unicoronal synostosis. Note how well camouflaged the cranial scar is.

Left: Pre-operative bird’s eye view of left unicoronal synostosis. Note the retrussive nature of the patient’s front left skull and yes good symmetry of the ears indicating growth restriction as a result of a prematurely closed left coronal suture. Right: post-operatively note the improved symmetry of the forehead.

Left: face view of infant with metopic synostosis. Note how forehead comes to a central point and there is constriction at both sides of the forehead. Right: face view after surgical correction of metopic synostosis. Note the improved forehead contour and decrease in temporal shappowing at the sides of the forehead.

Left: Bird’s eye view of infant with metopic synostosis. Note classic triangular shape of forehead. Right: After surgical correction of metopic synostosis. Note improved roundness and projection of sides of forehead.

Left: pre-operative facial photo of infant with bicoronal synostosis. Note the increased width of the head shape. Right: post-operative after posterior vault reshaping and therefore not as significant of change in the facial presentation.

Right: pre-operative lateral view of patient with bicoronal synostosis. Note the flatness of both the back and front of the head. Rigth: Post-operative after posterior vault remodeling. Note improved roundness and volume of the posterior skull. The cranial scar is already becoming well hidden by the hair growth.

Pre-operative and post-operative comparison of sagittal synostosis corrected in infancy with cranial spring placement. Note improved width to skull shape and more typical roundness of skull compared to progressive pattern of long and narrow head shape that is characteristic of sagittal synostosis.

Pre-operative and post-operative comparison of sagittal synostosis corrected with posterior vault reconstruction. Note improved width to skull shape and more typical roundness of skull compared to progressive pattern of long but narrow head shape that is characteristic of sagittal synostosis.