Neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with craniosynostosis: a retrospective cross-sectional analysis.

OBJECTIVE

This retrospective study evaluated neurodevelopmental outcomes including cognitive, motor, language, and social functioning in children with craniosynostosis and examined the influence of suture type, syndromic status, timing of surgery, and raised intracranial pressure.

METHODS

A cross-sectional retrospective study of 150 children (ages 3-12) with craniosynostosis was conducted using medical records and standardized neurodevelopmental tests. Statistical analyses included t-tests, chi-square tests, and multivariate regression.

RESULTS

Metopic synostosis was associated with slightly lower language and higher social impairment scores, but these differences were not significant after adjustment. Surgery before 9 months conferred ~5-point advantages in cognitive and motor outcomes, particularly in sagittal and coronal synostosis. Raised intracranial pressure, present in 13%, was linked to poorer outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with craniosynostosis are primarily influenced by syndromic status, timing of surgery, and raised intracranial pressure rather than suture type alone. Early surgical intervention before 9 months has been associated with improved cognitive and motor outcomes, supporting early referral and intervention.