A Comprehensive Epidemiological Study on Ocular Outcomes in Suture-Specific Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis: National...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Neurosurgery
• Medical Genetics

Background:

• Nonsyndromic single suture craniosynostosis (NSCS) involves premature fusion of cranial sutures, potentially impacting neurodevelopment and facial structure.
• Ocular complications are recognized in NSCS, but subtype-specific risks remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the prevalence and risks of significant ocular outcomes across four NSCS subtypes.
• To compare ocular morbidity in NSCS patients versus matched controls.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study utilizing deidentified electronic health records from the TriNetX Research Network.
• Matched 1:1 analysis of 5060 NSCS patients (sagittal, metopic, unilateral coronal, lambdoid) against controls based on age, sex, and race.
• Calculation of risk ratios for specific ICD-10-CM-coded ocular abnormalities.

Main Results:

• Unilateral coronal synostosis (UCS) showed the highest risk for refractive errors, strabismus, and amblyopia.
• Metopic synostosis (MCS) was linked to refractive errors and congenital eyelid malformations.
• Sagittal synostosis (SCS) had the lowest overall risk but was associated with hyperopia and papilledema.

Conclusions:

• All NSCS subtypes are associated with increased ocular morbidity.
• UCS presents the greatest ocular risk, followed by MCS and SCS.
• Routine ophthalmologic surveillance is recommended for all children diagnosed with NSCS.