Endoscopy-assisted craniosynostosis surgery followed by helmet therapy

BACKGROUND: Surgical methods to treat craniosynostosis have evolved from a simple strip craniectomy to a diverse spectrum of partial or complete cranial vault remodeling with excellent results but often with high comorbidity. Therefore, minimal invasive craniosynostosis surgery has been explored in the last few decades. The main goal of minimal invasive craniosynostosis surgery is to reduce the morbidity and invasiveness of classical surgical procedures, with equal long-term results, both functional as well as cosmetic. METHODS: To reach these goals, we adopted endoscopy-assisted craniosynostosis surgery (EACS) supplemented with helmet molding therapy in 2005. RESULTS: We present in detail our surgical technique used for scaphocephaly, trigonocephaly, plagiocephaly, complex multisutural, and syndromic cases of craniosynostosis. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that EACS with helmet therapy is a safe and suitable treatment option for any type of craniosynostosis, if performed at an early age, preferably around 3 months of age.