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Craniosynostosis repair - Risks

Alternative Names

Craniectomy; Synostectomy; Strip craniectomy; Endoscopy-assisted craniectomy; Sagittal craniectomy; Frontal-orbital advancement; FOA

Risks:

Risks for any surgery are:

Breathing problems
Infection, including in the lungs and urinary tract
Blood loss (children having an open repair may need a transfusion)
Reactions to medicines

Possible risks of having this surgery are:

Infection in the brain
Brain swelling
Damage to brain tissue

Reviewed last on: 12/23/2010
Charles J. Prestigiacomo, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey, Newark, NJ. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Kanev PM. Congenital malformations of the skull and meninges. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2007 Feb;40(1):9-26, v.

Baskin JZ. Craniofacial surgery for congenital and acquired deforminities. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2010:chap 185.

Craniosynostosis

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