The occipital bar and internal osteotomies in the treatment of lambdoidal synostosis.

Lambdoidal synostosis results in unilateral or bilateral deformities. Patients with this diagnosis often present with moderate to severe deformities at a relatively late period in development. This late presentation limits the options for treatment and methods for correction. Occipital bar advancement and internal osteotomies provide an accurate, reliable, and quantitative method to treat the deformity. This technique addresses the variable degree of asymmetry and the large flattened bony segments. It was performed in 12 patients over 18 months, with good to excellent results.