Abstract
The primary aim of this study was to assess whether there exists a relationship between lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure and intracranial blood flow velocities as measured by transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) in children with scaphocephaly. Another aim was to compare pre- and postoperative TCD.
Using a transducer, lumbar CSF pressure (LP) was assessed in 21 children with scaphocephaly. TCD was performed, and the pulsatility index (PI) and the resistance index (RI) were obtained before and after cranioplasty.
In 17 children LP was higher than the reference values. No significant differences were found in PI and RI indices before and after cranioplasty.
LP values were significantly higher in children older than 6 months. There was no association between LP and PI and RI indices.
In children with scaphocephaly a higher LP can be expected with age. Moreover, TCD is not a reliable tool in predicting abnormal LP values.