Twenty-five-years follow-up results of our total cranial reshaping “bamboo-ware method”

• Published in: Child's nervous system 2014, Vol.30 (1), p.161-164
• Main Authors: Nakajima, Hideo, Sakamoto, Yoshiaki, Tamada, Ikkei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bone Transplantation - methods; Child, Preschool; Craniosynostoses - diagnosis; Craniosynostoses - surgery; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infant; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurosciences; Neurosurgery; Original Paper; Skull - abnormalities; Skull - surgery; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0256-7040; 1433-0350
• DOI: 10.1007/s00381-013-2199-0

Purpose For patients with craniosynostosis, there is no single procedure available for reconstructing a normal cranial shape, regardless of the type of deformity. To achieve ideal dynamic total skull remodeling for any type of craniosynostosis, we developed the bamboo-ware method. Methods Using two or three coronal bars as landmarks, the anterior–posterior length of the skull was determined using the sagittal bandeau, thereby creating the basic framework for reconstruction. Bone was then bridged to the remaining defects in a manner resembling woven bamboo. Results We treated 30 craniosynostosis patients (20 isolated cases and 10 cases of syndromic craniosynostosis) using the bamboo-ware method. Although intracranial infection was observed in three cases during the postoperative period, no deaths or serious complications were noted. In all patients, good cranial shape and adequate cranial volume were achieved. Conclusions The bamboo-ware method enabled outstanding results for every type of synostosis. This method could not only treat the deformity, but also resulted in good cranial form with a single operation.