Surgical Strategy in Treatment of Metopic Synostosis in a Single Centre Experience: Technical Note and Quantitative Analysis of the Outcomes

Purpose: Trigonocephaly is the most common craniosynostosis involving orbits. Although some degree of agreement has been reached regarding surgical timing and indications for treatment, there is no consensus regarding the ideal operative technique to guarantee an optimal morphological outcome. The purpose of this study is to describe both strategies and to compare morphological outcomes by means of morphological surface analysis obtained from three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetry, with two different techniques.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 43 patients with metopic synostosis surgically treated between 2004 and 2020. Two different techniques were applied, addressed as technique A and B. Ten patients undergone postoperative 3d stereophotogrammetry were enrolled, and cephalometric measurements were taken and compared to a cohort of unaffected patients matched by age and gender.

Results: Comparison of the groups demonstrated a hypercorrection of the metopic angle of the second technique, associated with a slightly lower correction of the interfrontoparietal diameter. The metopic angle showed to be significantly undercorrected with the first method.

Conclusions: Alternated barrel staving technique appears to be a quick and satisfactory method in cranial remodelling for metopic synostosis. It guarantees an optimal aesthetic result in the first years after surgery.