Craniosynostosis of the Sphenofrontal Suture: Definition of the Main Signs of Craniofacial Deformity

AIMS: The aim of this study is to compare clinical features of sphenofrontal craniosynostosis (SFC) and unilateral coronary craniosynostosis. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a retrospective study with two groups of patients with sphenofrontal and coronary craniosynostosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of the 1999–2016 archive data in Russian Children's Clinical Hospital. Ninety-five patients were diagnosed with frontal plagiocephaly. Eighty-three had deformations of unilateral craniosynostosis of coronary suture, 12 had premature closures of sphenofrontal suture. The age at the time of diagnosis varied from 5 months to 2, 5 years. RESULTS: SFC is featured by ipsilateral flattening of forehead and supraorbital margin, and ipsilateral dystopia of supraorbital margin downward. X-ray signs are the closure of sphenofrontal suture on the lesion side with open and symmetrically located remaining skull sutures and contralateral deviation of the midline of the ethmoid. CONCLUSIONS: SFC distinguishes from other plagiocephalias by following signs: supraorbital margin on the affected side is shifted downward; tip of the nose is displaced toward the affected side, root of the nose toward the healthy side. These signs facilitate correct diagnosis and treatment tactics.