Skull Development Simulation Model for Craniosynostosis Surgery Planning

Craniosynostosis occurs when one or more skull sutures fuse prematurely, resulting in an abnormal skull shape. Surgery is usually performed not only for cosmetic reasons, but also to avoid a rise in intracranial pressure. Currently, surgeons use their clinical expertise and experience to decide how they will reshape the skull when doing a total or partial vault remodeling. However, after surgery, the skull will continue to grow, and therefore the shape of it will change. There are currently no tools to visualize the results of the planned surgery. The aim of the present study was to develop an algorithm to simulate skull development for the first few months after birth, leading to a platform for planning craniosynostosis modelling. We have extended our previous pressure-based model to a force-based model, to stabilize the skull growth simulation algorithm. The results of our normal skull simulation are shown to be in line with clinical datasets, and the results of abnormal skull growth simulations were much better than previous models.