Endoscopic Strip Craniectomy for the Treatment of Single Suture Craniosynostosis

The treatment of craniosynostosis has evolved significantly over the past few decades. While open calvarial vault reconstruction remains a good treatment option, minimally invasive techniques have been shown to yield excellent results in children treated at a young age. This chapter details the use of endoscopic strip craniectomy with postoperative helmet therapy. This surgical option relies on early release of the fused suture to allow the child's own brain growth, plus use of a cranial molding helmet, to allow for correction of head shape. This chapter details the technique used to correct sagittal, metopic, and unicoronal craniosynostosis. Compared to open surgery, studies have shown that endoscopic surgery has comparable aesthetic outcomes and improved perioperative outcomes, such as blood loss, rate of blood transfusion, and time of surgery. This chapter reviews the techniques, aesthetic outcomes, cognitive outcomes, and advances in our knowledge of the genetics of craniosynostosis.