Sport participation and related head injuries following craniosynostosis correction: a survey study

OBJECTIVE Craniosynostosis (CS) affects about 1 in 2500 infants and is predominantly treated by surgical intervention infancy. Later childhood, many of these children wish to participate sports. However, the safety participation largely anecdotal based on surgeon experience. The objective this survey study was describe sport sport-related head injury CS patients. METHODS A 16-question related child/parent demographics, surgery history, sport-induced history made available patients/parents United States through a series synostosis organization listservs, as well synostosis-focused Facebook groups, between October 2019 June 2020. Sports were categorized American Academy Pediatrics groupings. Pearson’s chi-square test, Fisher’s exact independent-samples t-test used analysis. RESULTS Overall, 187 patients described 63% male, 89% White, 88% non-Hispanic, underwent at year or younger. majority (74%) had participated sports starting an average age 5 years (SD 2.2). Of those participating sports, contact/collision most common (77%), 71% multiple Those that played less frequently Hispanic (2.2% vs 22.9%, p < 0.001) more undergone second (44% 25%, = 0.021). Only 9 139 (6.5%) sport-participating suffered injuries; 6 (67%) concussions remaining 3 nondescript but did not mention any needs. CONCLUSIONS In nationwide postsurgical parents, exceedingly common, with contact being category. Few injuries (mostly concussions) reported participation. Although selective sample patients, initial data suggest participation, even typically beginning few after correction, safe commonplace.