Background: Posterior vault distraction (PVD) was first described in 2009. It provides a significant increase in intracranial volume and improves morphology of the craniosynostosis in children with bicoronal or multisuture craniosynostosis.
Method: Patients at Starship Children’s Hospital who underwent PVD from 2014 to 2023 had their clinical notes and photography reviewed retrospectively. Data was gathered regarding the indication for the procedure, success in addressing this indication, comorbidities and associated complications.
Results: During this review period, we performed 25 PVDs in 24 patients. There was an average follow up period of five years. Five patients had raised intracranial pressure (ICP) at the time of surgery, only one patient required further surgery for raised ICP. This was a re-do PVD which has been successful. Of the patients with an initially normal ICP and bicoronal or multisuture craniosynostosis, two required further surgery for concerns of raised ICP.
Complications included pin site infections that were managed with antibiotics, metalware complications requiring return to theatre, red blood cell transfusion, dural tears, a small extradural haematoma.
Conclusion: Our outcomes with PVD show it is a successful and safe procedure for addressing craniosynostosis.