The Reliability of Preoperative Simulation Surgery Planning for Distraction Osteogensis in Craniosynostosis Patients

Background Craniosynostosis management using distraction osteogensis represent a challenge for surgeons due to the great variability of the skull deformity even within the same etiology. The ability to apply the simulation surgery for improving the preoperative planning for distraction osteogensis could improve the results.Planning and Simulation 14 patients presented with craniosynostosis had been subjected to simulation surgery prior to real surgery. 3D CT scans was obtained upon patient admission. Adjustment of all skull position to Frankfort horizontal plane was done. 3 different distraction osteogensis plans were done for each patient according to the skull morphology. For each plane, movement for each bone segment was done according to the pre-planned distraction vectors. Also the distances of distractions were pre-determined according to the cephalic index as well as brain volume. Intraoperatively, we choose the most appropriate plan for the patient by the surgeon. At the end of distraction, 3D CT scan was obtained, and was compared to the simulation plan. Also the distance and the direction of distraction was compared to that of the plan. Accordingly, the distance was almost matching that of the simulation surgery, however the vector of distraction was not matched.Conclusion Preoperative stimulation planning for craniosynostosis patient is very valuable tool in the surgical management of craniosynostosis patients.