Laser-assisted indocyanine green imaging to assess perfusion of scalp closure in an infant.

ABSTRACT

The current treatment of craniosynostosis is open surgical excision of the prematurely fused suture and cranial vault remodeling. Due to the change in skull morphology and the increase in volume, some tension on the skin flaps is noted with closure. Although complete wound breakdown is rare, it can be a devastating complication. We present our experience with the use of the SPY imaging system (Lifecell Corporation, Branchburg, NJ, USA) to visualize and record blood flow within the flaps of a 1-year-old patient with anterior plagiocephaly. Intraoperative indocyanine green angiography has the potential to be a significant advantage in such cases, providing a safe and objective method to assess intraoperative scalp perfusion, allowing the surgeon to take additional measures to ameliorate any ischemic problems.