Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Infants with Non-Syndromic Trigonocephaly: A Comparative Study of Surgical and Non-Surgical Management

Objective This study investigates the neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants with non-syndromic trigonocephaly managed surgically and conservatively. The aim is to assess whether earlier surgical intervention influences cognitive, language, and motor development at 12 months of age. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 16 children diagnosed with non-syndromic trigonocephaly. Seven underwent surgical intervention between three and six months, while nine were managed conservatively. Neurodevelopmental assessment was performed at 12 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III). Composite scores for cognitive, language (receptive and expressive), and motor (fine and gross) domains were compared using parametric or non-parametric tests based on Shapiro–Wilk normality assessment. Results No statistically significant differences were observed between surgical and non-surgical groups across all composite domains. Cognitive composite scores were 109.29 ± 11.34 (surgical) versus 101.67 ± 15.21 (non-surgical; p = 0.288). Receptive language scores were 107.00 ± 13.64 versus 100.78 ± 11.69 (p = 0.299); expressive language scores were 107.00 ± 13.64 versus 101.11 ± 12.18 (p = 0.378); fine motor scores were 99.86 ± 10.24 versus 93.22 ± 15.59 (p = 0.348); and gross motor scores were 99.86 ± 10.24 versus 96.22 ± 16.39 (p = 0.528). Mean scores in both groups fell within the normative range (100 ± 15), and classification into normal (≥ -1 SD) or below-normal (< -1 SD) categories showed no significant differences (p > 0.05 for all domains). Conclusion In this small cohort, surgical correction of non-syndromic trigonocephaly performed at or before six months did not result in statistically significant differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months compared with conservative management.