Long-term ophthalmological outcomes in patients with anterior plagiocephaly managed with a fronto-orbital advancement procedure

Background: Anterior plagiocephaly results from early fusion of a unilateral coronal cranial suture, which affects 1/10,000 infants at birth and can be associated with ophthalmological complications. The study aimed to evaluate the frequency of oculomotor disorders and refractive errors in children with non-syndromic anterior plagiocephaly.

Methods: Patients with anterior plagiocephaly undergoing surgery using a fronto-orbital advancement technique were included in this retrospective study between 2011 and 2017. The following data were collected: cycloplegic refraction in diopters (D), best-corrected visual acuity, manifest strabismus in primary position, ocular motility, head tilt in primary position, slit-lamp and fundus examination. The refractive errors were determined by autorefraction after cycloplegia with cyclopentolate.

Results: Among the sixteen patients included, hyperopia >2.5D was found in 10 patients, astigmatism >1D in 10 patients and anisometropia >1D in 7 patients. Astigmatism was contralateral to the synostosis in 7 cases. In total, significant refractive errors were found in 92.9%. Amblyopia was found in 33.3% patients. Strabismus was found in 11 patients, most frequently combined horizontal and vertical, of which 4 required strabismus surgery. The most frequent vertical deviation was ipsilateral hypertropia in 54.5%. We found superior oblique muscle limitation in 3 patients. Optic disc pallor was found in 2 patients.

Conclusion: In the years following fronto-orbital advancement for non-syndromic anterior plagiocephaly, refractive errors and oculomotor disorders are frequently encountered, mainly contralateral astigmatism and strabismus with both horizontal deviation and ispilateral hypertropia.