Spring Assisted Scaphocephaly

Spring assisted correction for scaphocephaly is a technique pioneered by Swedish Plastic Surgeon Claes Lauritzen. Mr Davis learnt the technique from Prof Lauritzen during a craniofacial fellowship during 2003/2004. Our craniofacial program was the first in the Southern Hemisphere to use this technique and we have passed on the technique to surgeons in Australia and Asia.

In selected cases this technique has significant advantages over traditional surgery for scaphocephaly; the scar is less obvious, there is minimal dissection of the outer coverings of the brain and there is minimal blood loss. The need for a blood transfusion is rare and recovery is faster. The safety profile is excellent. However the technique cannot be used in the presence of marked frontal bossing (which tends to develop after 6 months of age) and a second minor procedure is needed to remove the springs several months later. Long term follow up demonstrates excellent maintenance of results. Click here for two articles on this >>

The technique is not applicable to all patients. Over the period Jan 2005 to Jul 2008 our craniofacial program performed 157 transcranial craniofacial cases. The spring technique was used on 34 patients throughout New Zealand during this period.

The patient below is shown before and 6 months following spring assisted surgery for scaphocephaly. The springs are hand made in the Bioengineering Laboratory at Christchurch hospital.

Spring assisted scaphocephaly - Pre Op
Spring assisted scaphocephaly - 6 months after surgery

References:

Correction of non-synostotic scaphocephaly without cranial osteotomy: Spring expansion of the sagittal suture. C Davis, M MacFarlane, A Wickremesekera. Childs Nervous System 25: 225-30, 2009

Spring-Assisted Cranioplasty vs Pi-Plasty for Sagittal Synostosis- A long Term Follow up study. P Windh, C Davis, C Sanger, P Sahlin, C Lauritzen. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery 19: 59-64, 2008. Click here for a copy of the article >>

The evolving role of springs in craniofacial surgery: The first 100 clinical cases.
C. Lauritzen, C. Davis, T Hewitt, A. Ivarsson. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 2008; 121: 545-554. Click here for a copy of the article >>

Spring-assisted remodeling for ventricular shunt-induced cranial deformity.
C.Davis, C. Lauritzen. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery 19; 588-92, 2008.

Spring assisted cranioplasty alters the growth vectors of adjacent cranial sutures.
C Davis, P Windh, C Lauritzen. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 2008 (In press)

Spring assisted expansion of normal cranial sutures - A novel concept in craniofacial surgery.
C Davis, Lauritzen C.. D David (Ed) Craniofacial Surgery 11 2006

The evolving role of springs in Craniofacial Surgery.
Lauritzen C, Davis C, Ivarsson.. D David (Ed) Craniofacial Surgery 11 2006

To visit Mr Davis Private Practice website please click here >>