A longitudinal, statistical study of reoperation rates in craniosynostosis.

A prospective, statistical study of reoperation rates was done in the treatment of 167 consecutive children with nonsyndromic and syndromic craniosynostosis over a 6-year period at Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Mean length of follow-up was 2.8 years, with a range of 3 months to 6 years. Reoperation equal to or exceeding the magnitude of the original procedure occurred in 7 percent of cases. Multiple regression analysis revealed several factors associated with reoperation: Females and children with syndromic synostoses were more likely to require reoperation. Total reoperation rates for syndromic and nonsyndromic synostoses were 27.3 and 5.9 percent, respectively. Age at initial surgery, length of operation, and estimated blood loss did not predict a higher reoperation rate.