BILAMBDOID AND POSTERIOR SAGITTAL SYNOSTOSIS - THE MERCEDES-BENZ SYNDROME

A consistent pattern of craniosynostosis in the sagittal and bilateral lambdoid sutures is described in three patients. The external cranial ridging associated with fusion of these sutures produces a characteri stic triradiate, or ''Mercedes Benz,'' appearance to the posterior sku ll. Locally marked growth restriction is evident in the posterior foss a with compensatory secondary expansion of the anterior fossa manifest ing a degree of frontal bossing which mimics bicoronal synostosis. Alt hough this appearance could lead to inadvertent surgery in the frontal region, attention to the occipital region with wide early suture exci sion and vault shaping is indicated.