1. |
- Bernhardt, Peter, 1966, et al.
(author)
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A novel quantitative image-based method for evaluating cranial symmetry and its usefulness in patients undergoing surgery for unicoronal synostosis.
- 2013
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In: The Journal of craniofacial surgery. - 1536-3732. ; 24:1, s. 166-9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Unicoronal synostosis presents with cranial asymmetry. Fixed points are difficult to identify; surgical results are therefore difficult to evaluate. The aim of this study was to develop a computer-based method for evaluation of forehead symmetry to enable evaluation of surgical results in unicoronal synostosis. Methods: The MATLAB tool was programmed to segment computed tomographic images, leaving the outermost contour. Cephalometric images were segmented manually due to lower contrast. A center-point (O) and an end-point were manually defined in the midline of the forehead and at the nonfused coronal suture, respectively. The program then found a point (p) on the fused side, at the same distance from the O as the end-point. The contours of the left and right side of the forehead were thereafter superimposed, and the position of minimal area mismatch of the sides was identified. To correct for growth between preoperative images and follow-up, the number of mismatching pixels was related to the area outlined by the contour of the forehead, the end-point and p. Two quantities, the relative symmetry change and the absolute symmetry change, were defined and evaluated by repeated measurements on spherical and elliptical phantoms and 15 patients. Results: Measurements with the MATLAB program were reliable with an SD of 0.26% to 5.39% for the expected range of differences. The SD was lower for measurements on computed tomographic images than for measurements on cephalometric images. The SD was also lower in patients with large surgical improvement than in patients with little improvement. The results support the use of relative symmetry change to evaluate surgical results. Conclusions: Our new computer-based method is capable of measuring forehead symmetry with good precision. This method can be used for systematic evaluation of surgical outcome for unicoronal synostosis and other asymmetric skull deformities.
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2. |
- Bevilacqua, Ruggero, et al.
(author)
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Spring-Assisted Surgery in the Treatment of Complex Craniosynostosis
- 2018
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In: Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. - 1049-2275. ; 29:4, s. 920-924
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Multisutural nonsyndromic craniosynostosis is a rare group of malformations, whose frequency has been reported between 3% and 7% of all craniosynostosis. The clinical diagnosis can be difficult and computed tomography is usually required. Surgical treatment is challenging and staged procedures are performed in up to 80% of patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the reoperation rate and to evaluate the surgical outcomes by measuring intracranial volume (ICV) preoperatively and at follow-up, and comparing it to a control group. Perioperative variables and reoperation rate were recorded. Fifty-one patients presented with a complex pattern of synostosis without a recognizable syndrome (5% of cases of total patients evaluated). Fifteen patients have been treated with spring-assisted surgery, either alone or in combination with a foreheadplasty. The mean follow-up was 6.2 years. The mean preoperative ICV of the patients was smaller, but not significantly, than in the normal population (P = 0.13). Postoperatively, the mean ICV was similar to that of the control group at 1 year (P = 0.92), while at 3 years it was appreciably smaller, although not significantly different (P = 0.06). Five patients (33%) went through a secondary skull expansion for either raised intracranial pressure or cosmetic reasons. Spring-assisted surgery seems to temporarily expand ICV in children with complex synostosis and lower the reoperation rate, thus reducing the need for a second procedure. A longer follow-up would be necessary to further investigate the effects of springs over time.
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4. |
- Fischer, Sara, et al.
(author)
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Comparisons of Intracranial Volume and Cephalic Index After Correction of Sagittal Craniosynostosis With Either Two or Three Springs
- 2021
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In: The Journal of craniofacial surgery. - 1536-3732. ; 32:8, s. 2636-2640
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ABSTRACT: In this retrospective study, the authors determined changes in intracranial volume (ICV) and cephalic index (CI) in patients with sagittal craniosynostosis and operated with craniotomy combined with either 2 or 3 springs. The authors included patients (n=112) with complete follow-up that had undergone surgical correction for isolated sagittal craniosynostosis with craniotomy combined with springs between 2008 and 2017. All patients underwent computed tomography examination preoperative, at the time of spring extraction, and at 3years of age. Intracranial volume was measured using a semiautomatic MATLAB program, and CI was calculated as the width/length of the skull. The authors found that craniotomy combined with 2 springs increased the ICV from a preoperative value of 792±113mL (mean±standard deviation) to 1298±181mL at 3years of age and increased the CI from 72.1±4.1 to 74.6±4.3, whereas craniotomy combined with 3 springs increased the ICV from 779±128mL to 1283±136mL and the CI from 70.7±4.3 to 74.8±3.7. The relative increase in ICV was 65±21% in the two-spring group and 68±34% in the three-spring group (P value=0.559), and the relative increase in CI was 3.6±3.3% in the two-spring group as compared with 6.0±5.0% in the three-spring group (P=0.004). These findings demonstrated that use of 3 springs resulted in additional absolute and relative CI-specific effects as compared with 2 springs during the time when the springs were in place, with this effect maintained at 3years of age.
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5. |
- Fischer, Sara, et al.
(author)
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Intracranial volume is normal in infants with sagittal synostosis.
- 2015
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In: Journal of plastic surgery and hand surgery. - 2000-6764. ; 49:1, s. 62-64
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Abstract Premature sagittal synostosis results in an elongated, narrow skull shape, scaphocephaly. It has been unclear whether the intracranial volume (ICV) of these children is different from that of normal children. The aim of the present study was to precisely determine the ICV in a large cohort of children with premature sagittal synostosis and to compare it to the ICV of a sex- and age-matched control group. All patients (n = 143) with isolated sagittal synostosis registered in the Göteborg Craniofacial Registry until the end of 2012 with a preoperative CT examination were identified. For each case, a sex- and age- (±30 days) matched control was identified from children who had undergone CT for post-traumatic or neurological reasons. The ICV was measured in a semi-automatic MATLAB program with functions such as region growing, watershed, and thresholding in axial CT slices. The ICV was calculated using the Cavalieri principle. The mean (± SEM) values of ICV for children with sagittal synostosis and for corresponding controls were 866 ± 13 ml and 870 ± 15 ml, respectively. The mean ages of these groups were 173 ± 8 days and 172 ± 8 days, respectively. Subgroup analysis of sex and age at CT (≤180 days and >180 days) did not reveal any differences in ICV between cases and controls. Precise determination of ICV in addition to the use of adequate controls has made it possible to conclude that children with premature isolated sagittal synostosis have a normal ICV.
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6. |
- Fischer, Sara, et al.
(author)
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Psychosocial conditions in adults with Crouzon syndrome: a follow-up study of 31 Swedish patients.
- 2014
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In: Journal of plastic surgery and hand surgery. - 2000-6764. ; 48:4, s. 244-247
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Abstract Crouzon syndrome presents with craniosynostosis, maxillary hypoplasia, exophtalmus, and sometimes hampered neuropsychological development. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the quality of life for adult patients with Crouzon syndrome. Forty patients with Crouzon syndrome born before 1990 could be identified. A questionnaire addressing education, employment, social relations, and quality-of-life was used. A matched control group was created for comparison. Logistic regression, correcting for the influence of age and sex, was used to compare patients and controls. Thirty-one patients and 285 controls answered the questionnaire. The level of education was lower in patients than in controls (p < 0.015). Patients were less often married or had a partner (p = 0.059), had fewer children of their own (p = 0.004), and had less experience of a sexual relationship (p < 0.001). The difference in housing was not significant, and only one patient lived in a care centre and three patients required a personal assistant to manage activities of daily living. The patients' estimation of their somatic health was equal to that of the controls, but the patients more often used anti-epileptic medication (p = 0.003). Periods of depressive mood were more common in patients (p = 0.001), but there was no difference between the groups regarding a general positive attitude to life. In conclusion, patients with Crouzon syndrome often have intellectual and social shortcomings that negatively affect their lives. However, the range of abilities is wide in this group.
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7. |
- Fischer, Sara, et al.
(author)
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Springs Produce Favorable Morphological Outcomes Relative to H-craniectomy According to a Two-center Comparison of Matched Cases.
- 2024
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In: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. - 0032-1052 .- 1529-4242. ; 154:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Sagittal synostosis is the most common type of premature suture closure, and many surgical techniques are used to correct scaphocephalic skull shape. Given the rarity of direct comparisons of different surgical techniques for correcting craniosynostosis, this study compared outcomes of craniotomy combined with springs and H-craniectomy for non-syndromic sagittal synostosis.Comparisons were performed using available pre- and postoperative imaging and follow-up data from the two craniofacial national referral centers in Sweden, which perform two different surgical techniques: craniotomy combined with springs (Gothenburg) and H-craniectomy (Renier's technique; Uppsala). The study included 23 pairs of patients matched for sex, preoperative cephalic index (CI), and age. CI, total intracranial volume (ICV), and partial ICV were measured before surgery and at 3 years of age, with volume measurements compared against those of pre- and postoperative controls. Perioperative data included operation time, blood loss, volume of transfused blood, and length of hospital stay.Craniotomy combined with springs resulted in less bleeding and lower transfusion rates than H-craniectomy. Although the spring technique requires two operations, the mean total operation time was similar for both methods. Of the three complications that occurred in the group treated with springs, two were spring-related. Importantly, the compiled analysis of changes in CI and partial volume distribution revealed that craniotomy combined with springs resulted in superior morphological correction.The findings showed that craniotomy combined with springs normalized cranial morphology to a greater extent than H-craniectomy based on changes in CI and total and partial ICVs over time.
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8. |
- Fröjd, Victoria, 1986, et al.
(author)
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Conservative Healing of an 11×9-cm Aplasia Cutis Congenita of the Scalp with Bone Defect.
- 2014
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In: Journal of neurological surgery reports. - : Georg Thieme Verlag KG. - 2193-6358 .- 2193-6366. ; 75:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ObjectivesAplasia cutis congenita is a rare congenital condition, and it is difficult to find scientific support for optimal treatment strategies. In addition, these may vary due to defect size, tissue layers involved, contemporary malformations, and the physiologic status of the affected child. Clinical PresentationThis case report describes complete skin coverage in 20 weeks and uneventful healing of a large 11×9-cm defect of the vertex, involving both skin and skull bone, using conservative treatment. To prevent infection and promote healing, the defect was kept moist and covered at all times, and it was treated with surgical debridement when necessary. For infection control, ionized silver-coated dressings were used in addition to prophylactic antibiotics over the first 3.5 weeks. Follow-up was 2 years. ConclusionSurgical treatment is usually preferred for larger aplasia cutis congenita defects, but it is accompanied with potential risks and will exacerbate secondary reconstruction of alopecia or skull bone defects. This case shows that even very complex defects may be treated conservatively.
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9. |
- Hagmarker, Linn, et al.
(author)
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A new quantitative image-based method for evaluation of bony temporal hollowing in metopic synostosis
- 2016
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In: Journal of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery. - : Medical Journals Sweden AB. - 2000-656X .- 2000-6764. ; 50:6, s. 343-348
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Premature craniosynostosis is a congenital disorder causing a skull deformity. For both functional and cosmetic reasons, the deformity is surgically treated with a cranioplasty before the age of 1 year. Temporal hollowing is a common and undesirable remaining deformity after cranioplasty for metopic synostosis. The most common method to determine the degree of temporal hollowing is subjective judgement of the temporal region. The aim of the present project was to develop a quantitative semi-automatic computer tool for objective measurement of bony temporal hollowing. Methods: Using MATLAB, a tool was developed to segment computed tomography images, defining the outermost contour. The images were dorsally limited to the widest point of the head. In each case, a sex-and age-matched control was identified and the contours compared. The bony temporal hollowing of the cases was calculated. Results: The intra-user coefficient of variation (CV) was 5.0% (95% CI = 4.2%-6.2%) and the inter-user CV was 3.0% (95% CI = 2.1%-8.6%). For clinical testing purposes, the tool was used in 14 patients, seven of whom had been operated on with a spring-assisted cranioplasty and seven with a cranioplasty using a bone graft. Conclusions: In summary, this study presents a new tool for objective measurement of the surgical result after cranioplasty for metopic synostosis.
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10. |
- Hallen, T., et al.
(author)
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Cranioplasty without Periosteal Dissection Reduces Blood Loss in Pi-Plasty Surgery for Sagittal Synostosis
- 2017
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In: Pediatric Neurosurgery. - : S. Karger AG. - 1016-2291 .- 1423-0305. ; 52:4, s. 284-287
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background/Aims: Cranioplasty is often accompanied by a substantial oozing bleeding from the bone surface and bone edges. Our aim was to measure if strict subgaleal dissection without any periosteal release reduces blood loss during pi-plasty surgery for sagittal synostosis. Method: A group of 32 children who underwent pi-plasty surgery at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital between 2010 and 2014 for premature sagittal synostosis with traditional subgaleal dissection combined with incision and release of the periosteum adjacent to the osteotomy lines was compared to a group of 7 children who underwent pi-plasty with strict subgaleal dissection and osteotomy through the bone with the periosteum attached. Information about blood loss and body weight was extracted from medical records. Results: The blood loss in the group of 7 children with strict subgaleal dissection was 102 +/- 86 mL (mean +/- SD) (10 +/- 7 mL/kg) compared to 320 +/- 119 mL (32 +/- 12 mL/kg) in the control group with traditional periosteal release (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Intact periosteum at the osteotomy lines significantly reduces blood loss in pi-plasty surgery for sagittal synostosis. The mechanism is likely because of preserved veins between the bone surface and periosteum.
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