Pre- and postoperative developmental attainment in sagittal synostosis

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurosurgery
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Craniofacial Surgery

Background:

• Sagittal synostosis (SS) is a premature fusion of the sagittal suture, potentially impacting neurodevelopment.
• The long-term developmental consequences of SS and the efficacy of surgical intervention remain areas of investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of sagittal synostosis on children's mental and psychomotor development.
• To determine the effect of corrective surgery on developmental outcomes in children with SS.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 28 children with SS underwent surgical correction and were assessed pre- and postoperatively using the Griffiths Mental Development Scales.
• A control group of 28 healthy children was assessed once.
• A secondary control group of 13 children with SS received no surgery but underwent repeated developmental assessments.

Main Results:

• Children with SS exhibited significantly impaired gross motor function compared to controls.
• Postoperative assessment revealed resolution of the gross motor deficit following surgery.
• Improvements were also noted in eye-hand coordination and performance skills, alongside overall developmental attainment.
• Children with SS who did not undergo surgery showed no developmental improvements.

Conclusions:

• Surgical correction of sagittal synostosis leads to enhanced developmental attainment in affected children.
• The findings suggest that surgical intervention for SS offers functional benefits beyond cosmetic improvement.