Circummaxillary Sutures in Patients With Apert, Crouzon, and Pfeiffer Syndromes Compared to Nonsyndromic Children: Growth, Orthodontic, and Surgical Implications

Abstract

Based on the differences in terms of maxillary sutural ossification identified, midfacial hypoplasia does not seem to be only secondary to premature cranial base ossification, but also to primary synostosis of facial sutures, thus providing new insights into the pathogenesis of midface deficiency in children with craniofacial-synostosis. Care should be taken when planning any maxillary orthopedics, such as expansion or maxillary protraction, given the high frequency of early fusion of circummaxillary sutures.