Oxycephaly consists of a group of congenital deformities resulting from a premature closure of the bony vault of the skull. The outstanding feature is a towershaped head. Developmental anomalies of other parts of the body are frequently associated. Because of the numerous ocular observations, the ophthalmologist sees many of these cases. Other names for this condition are acrocephaly, steeple skull, tower skull, turricephaly and Turmschädel. The "Quarterly Cumulative Index Medicus" uses the term acrocephaly. Oxycephaly is occasionally associated with syndactyly and is then known as acrocephelosyndactyly, or Apert's syndrome. Oxycephaly is rare. Valentin1 in 1938 reviewed the world literature and could account for only 90 cases. Over the past three years only 1 case has been detected in over 5,000 new admissions to the eye service of Dr. Walter V. Moore at the Brooklyn Eye and Ear Hospital.
OBSERVATIONS IN OXYCEPHALY
Skull.—
The changes in the skull represent the