Longitudinal assessment of visual development in non-syndromic craniosynostosis: a 1-year pre- and post-surgical
G Vasco1, G Baranello, D Ricci
1Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Insights
Surgical correction of single-suture non-syndromic craniosynostosis significantly improves visual function in infants. Most children experienced enhanced visual acuity and oculomotor behavior post-surgery, indicating delayed visual maturation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Craniofacial Surgery
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Single-suture non-syndromic craniosynostosis involves premature fusion of cranial sutures, potentially impacting neurodevelopment.
- Visual function abnormalities can occur in affected infants, necessitating thorough pre- and post-operative assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally investigate visual function in infants with single-suture non-syndromic craniosynostosis before and after surgical correction.
- To identify specific visual deficits and their resolution patterns following surgical intervention.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 29 infants (12 sagittal, 10 trigonocephaly, 7 anterior plagiocephaly) underwent comprehensive visual function testing.
- Assessments included ocular behavior, acuity, visual fields, and fixation shift, conducted pre-surgery and at 2, 6, and 12 months post-surgery.
Main Results:
- Pre-surgery, only 16% of infants exhibited normal visual function across all parameters.
- Twelve months post-surgery, 65% of infants demonstrated normal visual function.
- Post-operative abnormalities were primarily related to oculomotor behavior in infants with plagiocephaly.
Conclusions:
- Surgical correction of single-suture non-syndromic craniosynostosis is associated with significant improvements in infant visual function.
- The observed visual improvements suggest delayed visual maturation rather than persistent abnormalities in most cases.
- Oculomotor function requires continued attention, particularly in infants with plagiocephaly.
Objective:
to investigate visual function pre- and post surgery in children with single-suture non-syndromic craniosynostosis
Design:
Twenty-nine infants (12 with sagittal synostosis, 10 with trigonocephaly and 7 with anterior plagiocephaly) were longitudinally evaluated using a battery of tests assessing various aspects of visual function, including ocular behaviour, acuity, visual fields and fixation shift. All infants were assessed before surgery and 2, 6 and 12 months after surgery.
Results:
Before surgery only 16% of infants had completely normal visual function, while on the assessment performed 12 months after surgery, the number with normal results on all the tests increased to 65%. The only abnormalities found 12 months after surgical correction were mainly found on abnormal oculomotor behaviour in infants with plagiocephaly.
Conclusion:
Abnormalities of visual function were not frequent in infants with non-syndromic craniosynostosis who underwent surgical correction. Approximately half of the patients had some visual abnormalities before surgery, which subsequently improved, showing a delayed visual maturation rather than persistent abnormalities.
