Morphological improvement after multi-directional cranial distraction osteogenesis procedure for syndromic craniosynostosis

Abstract

The multidirectional cranial distraction osteogenesis (MCDO) procedure, which uses an external distraction device, enables tailor-made distraction in an arbitrary direction, eliminating the disadvantage of unidirectional distraction with an internal distraction device. Multiple-suture synostosis cases for syndromic craniosynostosis patients are better indicated for this procedure. Here the authors describe seven cases in which the MCDO procedure was used to treat syndromic craniosynostosis. In each case, the MCDO procedure and postoperative distraction, with reference to midsagittal vector analysis of normal morphology in Japanese children, resulted in morphological improvement.