A girl named Emilia from Rivne Region required complex neurosurgical intervention from the very first days of her life. She was diagnosed with craniosynostosis — a rare condition in which one or more of the skull’s sutures fuse prematurely, preventing the normal formation of the skull and development of the brain.
Specialists at the children’s medical centre applied the distraction technique in the child’s treatment for the first time. Mykhailo Lovha, Head of the Clinic of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Epilepsy Surgery and Neurophysiology, explained the essence of the approach:
“The girl was diagnosed with a rare syndrome characterised by bilateral fusion of the coronal suture and pronounced dysmorphic facial features. Several neurosurgical treatment options exist for such patients. In Emilia’s case, we used the distraction technique for the first time.” — Mykhailo Lovha
The method involves separating the fused sutures and reshaping the skull bones using specialised metal distractors, which are inserted along the line of incision and gradually expand the cranium, creating space for brain growth. The treatment consists of several stages: fitting the device, a distraction phase, and its subsequent removal.
Emilia wore the distractors to increase her skull volume for one month. The neurosurgeons recently completed the final stage — removal of the device. Following the recovery period, the team of specialists plans to carry out a further procedure to correct her facial features. According to Mykhailo Lovha, without timely treatment, craniosynostosis risks causing raised intracranial pressure, neurological disorders, and developmental delays.
The family waited two months for the bespoke distractors to be manufactured in Germany. The costly components were purchased with the assistance of the Skarbnytsia Nadiyi charitable foundation and its director Mariana Reva, who support young patients from Rivne Region. Emilia is now 1 year and 3 months old, and following the treatment she has every chance to grow and develop without limitations.