Anaesthetic management of a patient with Crouzon syndrome

Abstract

Crouzon syndrome is a rare hereditary disorder, characterised by marked craniofacial dysostosis from birth or early childhood. Typically, patients present in early childhood for craniofacial reconstruction surgery. Presentation in early adulthood is unusual. The most challenging aspect, for an attending anaesthesiologist, is the management of the difficult airway that is usually present in these patients, due to various craniofacial abnormalities of the neck region. Regional anaesthesia may be complicated in these patients, because of vertebral abnormalities. Here, we describe the successful neuraxial anaesthetic management of a 17-year-old male with Crouzon syndrome, who presented to us in the orthopaedic emergency outpatient department with a fracture of the left tibia, sustained during an accident.

Keywords: Crouzon syndrome, craniofacial dysostosis, difficult airway, neuraxial anaesthesia

South Afr J Anaesth Analg 2012;18(5):270-272