Surgical Correction of Trigonocephaly: Theoretical Basis and Operative Procedures

• Published in: Neurologia medico-chirurgica Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 110 - 115
• Main Authors: MORIYAMA, Eiji, BECK, Hiroichi, ISEDA, Keiichi, SAITOH, Nobuyuki, SAKURAI, Masaru, MATSUMOTO, Yuzo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Japan The Japan Neurosurgical Society 1998; THE JAPAN NEUROSURGICAL SOCIETY
• Subjects: Cephalometry; Child; Craniosynostoses - diagnostic imaging; Craniosynostoses - surgery; craniosynostosis; Craniotomy - methods; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Infant; Infant, Newborn; lateral canthal advancement; Male; metopic synostosis; radical forehead remodeling; Skull Base - diagnostic imaging; Skull Base - surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; trigonocephaly
• ISSN: 0470-8105; 1349-8029
• DOI: 10.2176/nmc.38.110

Trigonocephaly involves premature fusion of both the metopic suture and the sutures in the skull base. Surgical treatment by opening of the prematurely fused metopic suture and expansion of the anterior cranial base by creating “neosutures” was used to treat three children with trigonocephaly. The combination of lateral canthal advancement and radical forehead remodeling achieved excellent results. These procedures can also prevent the development of midface hypoplasia such as hypotelorism. The two younger patients, aged 0 and 6 months, achieved rapid bone growth in the defects and normalization of intercanthal and interpupillary distances. The older patient, aged 8 years, retained some skull defects at follow-up. The optimal age for surgery is 3-6 months, which allows good cosmetic results and minimizes visual repercussions with relatively low perioperative risks.