RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Scaphocephaly increases the rate of some modifications of cognitive and mood profile in a manner that remains to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe the impact of scaphocephaly on neuropsychological profile and more particularly on the executive functions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An experimental group of 19 children older than 5 years, operated on for scaphocephaly, was compared with a control group of 10 children operated on for trigonocephaly, using IQ tasks, attention tasks and mood scales. A group of 6 children from 2 to 4 years old, operated on for scaphocephaly, and a group of 6 children with non-operated scaphocephaly are also described. RESULTS: Both the experimental group and the control group showed unchanged IQ, whereas attention deficit and anxiety disorder were more frequent in the experimental group. Cognitive profiles differed between groups, with a higher rate of impaired inhibitory control of visual processing in the scaphocephaly group, contrasting with a higher rate of impaired auditory verbal working memory in the trigonocephaly group. Comparable profiles were also found in groups of younger or non-operated children with scaphocephaly. CONCLUSIONS: Many children with scaphocephaly must cope with a specific neuropsychological profile throughout development. This study suggests the interest for these children and their families of specific follow-up in reference centers.
