Age at Time of Craniosynostosis Repair Predicts Increased Complication Rate

This study uses administrative data to assess the optimal timing for surgical repair of craniosynostosis and to identify factors associated with risk of perioperative complications.

Statistical analysis of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database (2006, 2009, 2012).

KID-participating hospitals in 44 states.

Children 0 to 3 years of age with ICD-9 codes for surgical correction of craniosynostosis (756 and 0124, 0125, 0201, 0203, 0204, or 0206).

Age-based cohorts were assessed for perioperative complications. We performed a multivariable analysis to determine characteristics associated with increased risk of complications.

21 million admissions were screened and 8417 visits met criteria for inclusion. Seventy-five percent of procedures occurred before age 1. Complications occurred in 8.6% of patients: 6.6% of patients at age 0 to 6 months, 10.3% of patients aged 7 to 12 months, and 13.9% of patients 12 to 36 months. Patients with acrocephalosyndactyly or associated congenital anomalies experienced complications in 22.9% of cases (OR = 3.07, 95% CI = 2.33, 4.03).

Craniosynostosis repair is safe; however, the risk of complications increases with age at intervention. Presence of a syndromic congenital deformity at any age carries the greatest increased risk of perioperative complications. This suggests that optimal timing of intervention is within the first year of life, especially in those cases with additional factors increasing perioperative risk. These data support the importance of counseling patients of the increased risk associated with delaying craniosynostosis repair.