This is a report of three children with spinal epidural abscess. The literature is reviewed and the features of this condition in children are noted. Because of the nonspecificity of presenting symptoms in children, the diagnosis may be delayed, resulting in a worse outcome, especially in children under 1 year of age. The extensive laminectomy advised for the treatment of spinal epidural abscesses in adults is undesirable in children because of the risk of spinal deformity and in most cases is probably not necessary.

Three children who developed pancraniosynostosis after surgery to correct nonsyndromic single suture synostosis (2 sagittal, 1 unilateral coronal) were noted on prolonged follow-up to have a decreased rate of head growth, and beaten copper findings on plain radiographs of the skull. All had elevated intracranial pressure as recorded by lumbar puncture. The children were reoperated, and then cranial growth resumed, and the radiographic abnormalities resolved. Because of the risk of pancraniosynostosis after surgery for single suture craniosynostosis, extended neurosurgical follow-up for patients with craniosynostosis is warranted.

A series of 50 consecutive patients with scaphocephaly treated by a new operation are reported, and the results are reviewed in detail. The treatment consists of a broad sagittal craniectomy plus extensive morcellation of both parietal bones and, occasionally, the squamous portion of the occipital bone, without dislodging the bony fragments from their dural attachments. The procedure can be done relatively rapidly (median operative time = 55 min) and with minimal loss of blood (median transfusion = 85 ml). The results are analyzed by several criteria and are considered to be excellent.