Spring-Assisted Cranioplasty for Metopic Craniosynostosis: Perioperative Metrics in Comparison to Fronto-Orbital Advancement and Strip Craniectomy.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2025

Publication Title

The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal

Abstract

Objective: This study compares perioperative outcomes of three operative approaches for metopic craniosynostosis: spring-assisted cranioplasty (SAC), strip craniectomy (SC), and fronto-orbital advancement (FOA).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.SettingSingle-institution.PatientsPatients with metopic craniosynostosis treated 2021 to 2024.InterventionsSC, FOA, SAC.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Perioperative data including blood loss, anesthesia duration, operative duration, hospital length of stay. For SAC, metrics for placement and removal were combined.

Results: Six patients underwent SAC, seven SC, and seven FOA at 4.77 (±1.22), 3.42 (±.46), and 11.38 (±3.65) months, respectively. FOA exhibited increased blood loss (median [IQR]; 200 mL [162.5, 250]), anesthesia time (328.86 min ±49.65) and operative time (230.86 min ±45.38) compared to SC (40 [20, 57.5];P < .005; 153.29 ± 32.2; P < .001; 70.43 ± 20.11; P < .001) and SAC (50 [40,75]; P < .012; 254.17 ± 32.81; P < .012; 131 ± 24.5; P < .0010).

Conclusions: SAC for metopic craniosynostosis has lower blood loss, shorter operative time, and shorter anesthesia time in comparison to FOA. Total hospital stay duration required for SAC (including spring placement and removal procedures) is similar to FOA and greater than SC. Perioperative metrics for SAC are favorable or comparable relative to current standard-of-care procedures.

First Page

10556656251403083

Last Page

10556656251403083

Comments

Helen DeVos Children's Hospital

DOI

10.1177/10556656251403083

ISSN

1545-1569

PubMed ID

41342769

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