Neurodevelopmental functioning of infants with untreated single-suture craniosynostosis during early infancy.
(2012)
Journal - Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery
Abstract :
PURPOSE: Single-suture craniosynostosis (SSC) is a congenital craniofacial disorder, in which premature fusion of one of the skull sutures restricts and distorts growth of the cranium and underlying brain. This disorder of prenatal onset occurs during a critical phase of rapid growth and development of the immature brain. Craniosynostosis carries a known risk of developmental impairment. The neurodevelopmental sequelae of SSC prior to treatment remains however incompletely understood. This study sought to determine the neurodevelopmental sequelae of untreated single-suture craniosynostosis during early infancy. METHODS: Fifty-six consecutive patients with unoperated SSC (sagittal, metopic and unicoronal) comprised the sample cohort. Patients were aged between 4 and 16 months (M?=?8.9 months, SD?=?2.9 months). Neurodevelopmental functioning was assessed with the mental (Mental Development Index) and motor (Psychomotor Development Index) scales of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, second edition. RESULTS: Children with SSC displayed significantly lower mean mental (M?=?97.7, SD?=?6.7, p?