Allometry of Human Calvaria Bones During Development From Birth to 8 Years of Age

Abstract

Background: Pediatric heads change rapidly in size and shape during growth, especially for children up to eight years old. This project was developed to address the gap around the 3-dimensional growth parameters of the human skull during this period. This study offers novel data on the dynamic changes in the anatomy of the skull in order to provide better guidance for practicing pediatric surgical care. The study used the craniometric points defined on Three Dimensional (3D) Computed Tomography (CT) reconstructions to map skull development in children from 0 to 8 years old. Results: A total of 364 3D CT scans were analyzed, and 17 statistical geometry models were developed to provide a comprehensive neuroanatomical understanding of the pediatric skull for each age group. This study presents a 3D visualization of the developmental cranial anatomy variations among children from birth to 8 years old, demonstrating the closure of the sutures and fontanelles, changes in cranial size, and the differential growth of the skull bones. Conclusion: This study delivers seventeen 3D models of children’s skulls with anatomical craniometric features, such as head shape, bone size, and sutures closure time. The 3D visualization of the developmental characteristics of the skull facilitates understanding the characteristics of each age group’s cranial anatomy, which has been relatively unknown to this date. The seventeen models are a landmark dataset for the development of the human skull.