CRANIOSCOLIOSIS

We have identified a particular facial asymmetry with unique character istics that we call cranioscoliosis. Cranioscoliosis is a condition in which there is an apparent curvature of the midline of the cranial sk eleton, cranial base, and facial skeleton when viewed in the axial pla ne. Cranioscoliosis is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is differentiated from the craniosynostoses by an absence of fused calvarial vault sutur es. We recently developed a new technique, called cranial expansion, t hat involves interdigitating cuts in the calvaria which are subsequent ly expanded. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 13 patients id entified as having this condition, of whom 7 were surgically treated. Our results seem to indicate that cranioscoliosis involves an inherent growth disturbance that does not appear to be corrected through any e arly surgical release.