One hundred and twenty children have been treated surgically for premature fusion of the cranial sutures in this clinic.Thirty-six of these have been operated on in the first six months of life and constitute the material on which this report is based. These have included 19 instances of sagittal suture closure, 10 of coronal closure, 5 of multiple suture involvement and 2 miscellaneous cases.The marked reduction in incidence and degree of mental retardation, the prevention of visual impairment, and the improvement in cosmetic appearance which can be achieved by recognition and surgical treatment of this lesion in early infancy are emphasized.The operation of choice in this clinic is linear craniectomy parallel to the suture which is prematurely fused with insertion of polyethylene film over the bony margins to delay closure.With proper precautions and supportive treatment this type of surgery is well tolerated and the complications are negligible during the first few months of life.
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