Trigonocephaly: surgical considerations and long term evaluation

J Craniofac Surg. 2006 May;17(3):528-35. doi: 10.1097/00001665-200605000-00024.

Abstract

Trigonocephaly accounts for approximately 10% of all craniosynostosis. Severe trigonocephaly results in a triangular-shaped forehead, superior-lateral orbital depression, hypotelorism, and compensatory occipital-parietal calvarial changes. Radiographic findings include ovoid orbits with parallel medial borders, thickened keel-shaped frontal bone, small ethmoid sinuses, and a short anterior cranial fossa with pitched sphenoid wings. Our experience with 50 infantile cases of severe nonsyndromic trigonocephaly patients treated from 1987 to 2005 is clinically reviewed to assess long-term growth based on a standardized operative technique. The average age of the patients at surgery was 6 months and the mean follow-up was 12 years. Our complication rate was 2%; the reoperative rate was 12%. The use of resorbable rigid plate fixation combined with alloplastic augmentation has improved the cosmetic outcome in patients treated since 1996 and reduced the reoperative rate.

MeSH terms

  • Absorbable Implants
  • Bone Cements / therapeutic use
  • Bone Plates
  • Bone Substitutes / therapeutic use
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cranial Fossa, Anterior / abnormalities
  • Cranial Fossa, Anterior / diagnostic imaging
  • Cranial Sutures / abnormalities*
  • Cranial Sutures / diagnostic imaging
  • Cranial Sutures / surgery
  • Craniosynostoses / diagnostic imaging
  • Craniosynostoses / surgery*
  • Esthetics
  • Ethmoid Sinus / abnormalities
  • Ethmoid Sinus / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Frontal Bone / abnormalities*
  • Frontal Bone / diagnostic imaging
  • Frontal Bone / surgery
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Orbit / abnormalities
  • Orbit / diagnostic imaging
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sphenoid Bone / abnormalities
  • Sphenoid Bone / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Bone Cements
  • Bone Substitutes