Surgical correction of hypertelorism. Report of 40 cases.

Forty patients with hypertelorism seen in the past 16 years were reviewed retrospectively. Combined intra- and extracranial surgical approach was used for 37 severe and moderate cases and subcranial approach (U-osteotomy) for 3 moderate cases. Gratifying results were obtained in patients with different types of hypertelorism by a multidisciplinary team. Complications were also reviewed. Of the 37 cases of intra- and extracranial corrections, 1 died, 4 had cerebrospinal fluid leakage and 4 had keratitis. No seizure, cerebral edema, meningitis, blindness, and ptosis occurred in this series. The average age was 13 years and two months. Operating time averaged 6 hours and 50 minutes. Hypertelorism was mostly attributable to craniofacial cleft, craniosynostosis, frontoethmoidal meningoencephalocele, frontonasal fibrous dysplasia, and trauma. Satisfactory esthetic appearance was achieved in most of the cases.