Comparative Analysis of Patient-reported Outcomes After Cranial Vault Remodeling and Strip Craniectomy With the FACE-Q Craniofacial Module.

BACKGROUND

The debate continues among craniofacial surgeons regarding the effectiveness of strip craniectomy (SC) compared with cranial vault remodeling (CVR) in achieving optimal functional and aesthetic outcomes in patients with single-suture craniosynostosis. This study aimed to compare long-term patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between SC and CVR procedures at a single institution using the validated FACE-Q Craniofacial module.

METHODS

Patients older than or equal to 8 years of age and parents of patients younger than 8 years of age who underwent SC or CVR for single-suture craniosynostosis were eligible. Patients with <2 years of follow-up, lambdoid synostosis, and syndromes were excluded. Primary endpoints were PROs as measured by the FACE-Q, with higher scores indicating increased health-related quality of life. Linear regression was used to control for covariates.

RESULTS

Sixty-two participants completed the module (response rate 33.3%). SC was performed in 29 patients (46.8%), and CVR in 33 patients (53.2%). On unadjusted bivariate analysis, SC patients had higher eye ( P =0.03) and forehead ( P =0.05) scores. On regression analysis, controlling for sex, race, craniosynostosis type, and follow-up, there were no significant differences between operation types in any domain. Metopic and sagittal synostosis were associated with higher Eye (metopic: 17.61, P =0.049; sagittal: 41.44, P <0.001) and Head scores (metopic: 48.12, P =0.001; sagittal: 49.35, P <0.001), and sagittal synostosis was associated with higher Face (38.16, P <0.001), Forehead (55.93, P <0.001), and Nose scores (19.28, P =0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

From patients' and parents' perspectives at a single institution, SC and CVR were equivalent regarding aesthetics and health-related quality of life.