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Age-related changes in intracranial pressure in rabbits with uncorrected familial coronal suture synostosis
W K Fellows-Mayle1, M P Mooney, H W Losken
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Insights
Intracranial pressure (ICP) increases with bilateral coronal suture synostosis in rabbits, but decreases over time. The degree of suture involvement impacts early ICP elevation in this craniosynostosis model.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Craniofacial Surgery
- Animal Models in Research
Background:
- Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) in craniosynostotic infants can cause ocular and neurocapsular issues.
- Clinical ICP studies are limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneity, and varied surgical protocols.
- A large, homogenous rabbit model is needed to study longitudinal ICP changes in uncorrected craniosynostosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe longitudinal changes in ICP in rabbits with uncorrected familial, nonsyndromic coronal suture synostosis.
- To investigate the relationship between the extent of suture involvement and ICP levels.
- To establish a reliable animal model for studying craniosynostosis-related ICP dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Ninety-one rabbits were grouped into normal, delayed-onset coronal suture synostosis (DOCS), unilateral coronal suture synostosis (UCS), and bilateral coronal suture synostosis (BCS).
- ICP was measured at 24 and 42 days of age using a Codman epidural microtransducer.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare ICP across groups and over time.
Main Results:
- Rabbits with BCS showed significantly higher mean ICP (~146%) at 25 days compared to other groups.
- By 42 days, normal and DOCS rabbits had increased ICP, while BCS rabbits showed a significant decrease (32%).
- UCS rabbits had intermediate ICP levels that did not change significantly over time.
Conclusions:
- The extent of coronal suture involvement appears to correlate with early increases in ICP.
- The craniosynostotic rabbit model demonstrates intracranial decompression and compensation mechanisms.
- Findings suggest multifactorial explanations for ICP regulation in this model, relevant for understanding human craniosynostosis.
Objective:
Chronic, elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) in craniosynostotic infants may result in ocular and neurocapsular problems; however, not all infants exhibit elevated ICP. Clinical ICP studies are further confounded by small and heterogeneic samples, multiple-suture involvement, and varying surgical management protocols. The present study was designed to describe longitudinal changes in ICP in a large, homogenous sample of rabbits with uncorrected familial, nonsyndromic coronal suture synostosis.
Methods:
Ninety-one rabbits were divided into four groups: (1) normal rabbits (n = 28), (2) rabbits with delayed-onset coronal suture synostosis (DOCS; n = 25), (3) rabbits with unilateral coronal suture synostosis (UCS; n = 12), and (4) rabbits with bilateral coronal suture synostosis (BCS; n = 26). ICP was measured at 24 and 42 days of age using a Codman epidural microtransducer.
Results:
Rabbits with BCS had a significantly (p < .05) higher mean ICP at 25 days of age than rabbits in the other three groups by approximately 146%. However, by 42 days of age, mean ICP in normal control rabbits and rabbits with DOCS was significantly (p < .01) increased compared with their mean ICP values seen at 25 days of age, while mean ICP in BCS rabbits significantly (p < .01) decreased (by 32%) over the same time period. ICP in rabbits with UCS was between that seen in normal control rabbits and rabbits with BCS and did not significantly (p > .05) change over time.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that the degree of suture involvement may be related to early increases in ICP. Possible multifactorial explanations for intracranial decompression and compensation in the craniosynostotic rabbit model are discussed.