World-first treatment uses super elastic springs

A one-year-old boy has become the first in the world to receive a novel treatment for a rare skull condition, utilizing custom-designed, super elastic springs made from a nickel and titanium alloy. Rory Potter, diagnosed with severe sagittal craniosynostosis shortly after his birth in April 2025, underwent the groundbreaking procedure at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London. Sagittal craniosynostosis is a condition where the skull fuses prematurely before birth, leading to a skull that is long from front to back but narrow from side to side. This fusion can restrict brain development and potentially lead to learning disabilities, sight or hearing loss, and breathing or dental problems if left untreated. Traditional treatment typically involves skull reshaping surgery within the first months of life, often using stainless steel springs to gradually widen the skull. However, experts at GOSH and University College London (UCL) developed new springs using nitinol, a metal alloy known for its super elastic properties.