Cranial reconstruction for treatment of intracranial hypertension from sclerosteosis: case-based update.

BACKGROUND

Sclerosteosis (OMIM 269500) is a progressive, autosomal recessive, sclerosing bone disorder with a well defined phenotype. This phenotype is correlated with a deficiency in the protein product sclerostin, leading to bony overgrowth from the loss of inhibition of osteocyte function. Calvarial overgrowth can lead to cranial nerve palsies, visual impairment, and compression of the medulla at the foramen magnum. There is a presumption that calvarial thickening may lead to elevated intracranial pressure in these patients, although pressure measurements have not been published.

CASE DESCRIPTION: The authors report the case of a 28-year-old Saudi Arabian man with sclerostosis, progressive headaches, and a cervical spinal cord syrinx. A cranial reconstruction was performed by aggressively thinning the thickened cortical bone, thereby expanding the intracranial space. The measured intracranial pressure was 25-40 mm HG under anesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS

After surgery, the patient had resolution of the headaches and radiographic near-resolution of the syrinx. The authors review their experience and the relevant literature with this rare case.