Headache in operated isolated sagittal synostosis.

BACKGROUND:This study investigates the relationship between headache and the occurrence of signs associated with intracranial hypertension (ICH) such as ophthalmic signs, restricted skull growth and a vertex bulge in children who were operated for sagittal synostosis. METHODS:A total of 94 patients (aged 6-18 years) with sagittal synostosis were asked to indicate the headache frequency. Based on their age at referral, the patients had undergone either a fronto-biparietal remodeling (FBR) or an extended strip craniotomy (ESC). Data on fundoscopy, optical coherence tomography (OCT), occipitofrontal head circumference (OFC), and presence of vertex bulge on X-ray were collected retrospectively. RESULTS:Univariate analysis showed that ESC, the occurrence of ophthalmic signs, and a smaller OFC at last follow-up, were related to more frequent headaches (p=0.01, p=0.04, and p