Single-stage Total Cranial Vault Remodeling for Correction of Turricephaly: Description of a New Technique

Turricephaly is considered one of the most difficult cranial deformities to correct as addressing cranial height can result in increased intracranial pressure. We describe a new technique of total calvarial remodeling with bony transposition to simultaneously correct turricephaly and brachycephaly while preserving intracranial volume.

A retrospective review of patients undergoing single-stage cranial vault remodeling by a single surgeon (J.G.M.) at a single center between 2007 and 2015 was performed. The procedure consists of a frontal bandeau followed by a 1 cm 360^o axial strip craniectomy. The strip is then rotated 90 degrees into a coronal orientation and interposed between fronto-parietal and parito-occipital segments. Modification for occipital widening can also be performed.

Six patients with turribrachycephaly underwent the procedure over the 8-year period. Four patients were operated at less than 1 year of age, one patient underwent surgery at 2 years, and one at 9 years. Mean operative time was 4 hours, and mean transfusion was 300cc. There were no major complications. Mean cranial height reduction achieved was 1.6 cm (range, 1.0-2.0 cm), and mean anterior-posterior expansion was 3.4 cm (range, 2.3-4.5 cm). Patients also showed improvement in supraorbital retrusion.

Single-stage cranial vault remodeling with axial strip craniectomy and coronal interposition is safe and allows for simultaneous correction of turricephaly and brachycephaly while preserving intracranial volume.