Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of reconstructive craniopalisty results in children with sagittal synostosis

Background. The clinical signs of craniosynostosis are not limited only by abnormal head shape. In addition, such patients experience morphological changes in the brain, which without timely treatment can lead to severe cognitive impairment, disability and decreased quality of life. Objective. The aim of this study is to evaluate brain pathways in patients with sagittal synostosis before and after surgical treatment and complex inpatient rehabilitation. Confirm the importance of craniosynostosis timely surgical correction according to the obtained data. Material and methods. The study included 6 children diagnosed with sagittal synostosis, hospitalized in the department of pediatric oncology, head and neck surgery and neurosurgery of the Dmitry Rogachev National Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology. All patients underwent MRI-tractography both before and after surgical treatment and rehabilitation. Results. This study demonstrates the possibilities of MRI-tractography in the diagnosis of morphological changes and their dynamics assessment in patients with sagittal synostosis, as well as the results of the treatment including the complex of surgery and inpatient rehabilitation. This technique has low prevalence among such patients not only in Russian, but also in international practice. Conclusion. It has been shown that changes in the state of the brain pathways in children with sagittal synostosis may depend on age at the time of surgery, and it has been confirmed that surgical intervention has not only a cosmetic but also a specific morphological result.