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Growth of the cranial vault in rabbits with congenital coronal suture synostosis
A M Burrows1, M P Mooney, T D Smith
1Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
Insights
Premature fusion of cranial sutures (craniosynostosis) restricts skull growth and causes compensatory changes at other sutures. This rabbit model demonstrates these growth patterns, aiding understanding of human craniosynostosis.
Area of Science:
- Craniofacial biology
- Developmental biology
- Pediatric surgery
Background:
- Craniosynostosis involves premature fusion of cranial sutures, impacting skull development.
- Immobilization of cranial sutures leads to predictable growth restrictions and compensatory growth at adjacent sutures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test predictions of cranial vault growth restriction and compensatory growth in a rabbit model of nonsyndromic congenital coronal suture synostosis.
- To evaluate the utility of this rabbit model for understanding human craniosynostosis.
Main Methods:
- Ninety-six rabbits were divided into control, partially synostosed, and completely synostosed groups.
- Markers were placed on vault sutures, and serial radiographs were taken from 1.5 to 18 weeks of age.
- Cranial vault growth and landmark changes were assessed.
Main Results:
- Completely synostosed rabbits exhibited significantly shorter cranial vaults compared to controls.
- Reduced growth occurred at the fused coronal suture, with increased growth at the sagittal, frontal, and squamosal sutures.
- Calvarial growth patterns in the rabbit model mirrored predicted compensatory patterns in humans.
Conclusions:
- The rabbit model of coronal suture synostosis accurately reflects human craniosynostosis growth patterns.
- This model is valuable for studying the pathogenesis and craniofacial development in craniosynostosis.
- Findings support the understanding of suture immobilization effects on cranial vault growth.
Abstract:
Craniofacial growth data from craniosynostotic children have shown that suture immobilization results in predictable restrictions of cranial vault growth in a direction perpendicular to the affected suture and compensatory growth at sutures perpendicular to the affected one. This study tests these predictions by using rabbits with nonsyndromic congenital coronal suture synostosis. Data were collected from 96 rabbits divided into three groups: 42 unaffected litter mate controls, 33 partially synostosed rabbits, and 21 completely synostosed rabbits. Markers were placed bilaterally on either side of the vault sutures at 1.5 weeks of age. Serial radiographs were taken at 1.5, 6, 12, and 18 weeks of age for assessment of growth at the vault sutures and of various cranial landmarks. Results revealed that completely synostosed animals had significantly (p < .05) shorter cranial vaults, reduced growth at the coronal suture, and increased growth at the sagittal, frontal, and squamosal sutures compared with unaffected rabbits. Results also showed that the calvarial growth observed in this craniosynostotic rabbit model closely reflects predicted compensatory patterns seen in human clinical populations and that this rabbit model is valuable for understanding the pathogeneses and craniofacial growth patterns of humans with premature cranial suture synostosis.