3D morphological change of skull base and fronto-temporal soft-tissue in the patients with unicoronal craniosynostosis after fronto-orbital advancement.

PURPOSE: This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the deformation of the skull base and fronto-temporal soft tissue in the patients with anterior plagiocephaly over 1 year of age by three-dimensional (3D) imaging after fronto-orbital advancement (FOA).

METHODS

We quantitatively analyzed the surgical results and outcome of FOA performed in 10 patients with anterior plagiocephaly. The measurements of the skull base and fronto-temporal soft tissue were performed based on 3D computed tomography (CT) scan. We assessed symmetry of the skull base and fronto-temporal soft tissue change.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients at FOA was 38.9 months. A significant asymmetry of the skull base was found in all the patients. The growth of the anterior and middle fossae was restricted and the deformation of the fronto-temporal region was marked by soft tissue measurements in different grades. On the follow-up CT images 23.6 months after surgery, there was prominent change (p < 0.05) between the two hemibases (CSO^ ratio) and between the lengths and angles of the anterior and middle cranial hemi-fossae (CX, CSX^, XSM^, XM ratio), especially in grade IIA. Anterior cranial vault asymmetry index obviously decreased to - 1.2 from 12% after surgery (p < 0.05). What's more, ACA^ was also proved to be less after surgical correction (19.91° versus 8.29°, p < 0.01) in grade IIA. The change of fronto-temporal soft tissue was significant such as the frontal angle, the angle of the frontal plane, the fontal-temporal angle, and the angle of the temporal plane in different grades.

CONCLUSIONS

The asymmetry of the skull base and the deformation of the fronto-temporal region can be presented by intracranial view at over 1 year of age in different grades. FOA can correct the skeletal malformation of the fronto-temporal region as well as soft tissue and the asymmetry of the skull base was improved after surgical treatment.