Endoscopy-Assisted Craniosynostosis

The study by Jimenez et al. involved 139 patients with sagittal synostosis, aged 2 weeks to 9 months, who underwent endoscopy-assisted wide-vertex craniectomies and barrel stave osteotomies, followed by a year of postoperative helmet therapy. The results showed uniformly excellent outcomes with no significant complications, and 95% of patients were discharged on the first postoperative day. Concerns were raised by John Persing regarding the lack of postoperative CT scans and potential long-term consequences of the procedure. The authors highlighted the benefits of smaller scars, the importance of cauterizing bone edges for hemostasis, and the cost-effectiveness of helmet therapy over longer surgeries. The cephalic index was used for measurements, and 32 patients with low hematocrit levels did not require blood transfusions. The study emphasized the use of rigid endoscopes for their superior optics and the importance of informed consent for parents regarding surgical options.