Introduction of Spring-Assisted Cranioplasty for Bicoronal Synotosis in India: Description of First Case and Our Learning Experience.

BACKGROUND: Various surgical techniques for cranial reconstruction of patients with bicoronal synostosis have been suggested. The outcome is, however, still often suboptimal.

METHODS: In a 5-month-old child with apert syndrome, following a craniotomy incision, lambdoid suturotomy was done bilaterally. Two springs were implanted bilaterally over the lambdoid sutures. Cephalic index was obtained from three-dimensional computed tomography scans, and photographs were analyzed for aesthetic evaluation.

RESULT: The preoperative calvarial shape was hyperbrachycephalic. The CI improved from 92 to 83 units. Duration of surgery was 1 h 45 min, blood loss was 30 mL, and total hospital stay was 3 days. No major complications were observed. Spring removal was done at 6 months postoperatively and frontoorbital advancement performed.

CONCLUSION: Spring-assisted cranioplasty for bicoronal synostosis is a safe and elegant technique, is less invasive than many other cranioplasties, and results in marked improvement in the calvarial shape.