Craniosynostosis is a congenital (present at birth) defect that causes one or more sutures on a baby's head to close earlier than normal. Sutures are connections that separate each individual skull bones. The early closing of a suture leads to an abnormally shaped head.
Alternative NamesPremature closure of sutures
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe cause of craniosynostosis is unknown. Which suture is involved determines the abnormal shape of the head.
A person's genes may play a role in craniosynostosis. The hereditary form often occurs with other defects that can cause seizures, diminished intellectual capacity, and blindness. Genetic disorders commonly associated with craniosynostosis include Crouzon, Apert, Carpenter, Chotzen, and Pfeiffer syndromes.
However, most cases of craniosynostosis occur in a family with no history of the condition and children with craniosynostosis are otherwise healthy and have normal intelligence.
There are different types of craniosynostosis. Sagittal synostosis (scaphocephaly) is the most common type. It affects the main (sagittal) suture on the very top of the head. The early closing forces the head to grow long and narrow, instead of wide. Babies with this type of craniosynostosis tend to have a broad forehead. It is more common in boys than girls.
Frontal plagiocephaly is the next most common form. It is the closure of one side of the suture that runs from ear to ear on the top of the head. It is more common in girls.
Metopic synostosis is a rare form of craniosynostosis that affects the suture close to the forehead. The child's head shape may be described as trigonocephaly, and the deformity may range from mild to severe.
SymptomsThe doctor will feel the infants head and perform a physical exam. A neurological exam would also help diagnose the condition. The following tests may be performed:
The main treatment for craniosynostosis is surgery. Surgery is done while the baby is still an infant. The goals of surgery are:
How well a person does depends on how many sutures are involved and whether other defects are present. Patients who have surgery usually do well, especially those whose condition is not association with a genetic syndrome.
ComplicationsCraniosynostosis results in head deformity that can be severe and permanent if it is not corrected. Increased intracranial pressure, seizures, and developmental delay can occur.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you think your child's head has an unusual shape. A referral to a pediatric neurologist or neurosurgeon should follow.
PreventionBe sure to bring your child to well-child visits, so your pediatrician can routinely chart the growth of your infant's head over time. This will help identify the problem early if it occurs.
Persons with hereditary craniosynostosis might consider genetic counseling.
ReferencesKinsman SL, Johnston MV. Congenital anomalies of the central nervous system. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 592.
Ridgway EB. Skull deformities. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2004; 51(2): 359-87.
Craniosynostosis is a congenital (present at birth) defect that causes one or more sutures on a baby's head to close earlier than normal. Sutures are connections that separate each individual skull bones. The early closing of a suture leads to an abnormally shaped head.
Alternative NamesPremature closure of sutures
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe cause of craniosynostosis is unknown. Which suture is involved determines the abnormal shape of the head.
A person's genes may play a role in craniosynostosis. The hereditary form often occurs with other defects that can cause seizures, diminished intellectual capacity, and blindness. Genetic disorders commonly associated with craniosynostosis include Crouzon, Apert, Carpenter, Chotzen, and Pfeiffer syndromes.
However, most cases of craniosynostosis occur in a family with no history of the condition, and children with craniosynostosis are otherwise healthy and have normal intelligence.
There are different types of craniosynostosis. Sagittal synostosis (scaphocephaly) is the most common type. It affects the main (sagittal) suture on the very top of the head. The early closing forces the head to grow long and narrow, instead of wide. Babies with this type of craniosynostosis tend to have a broad forehead. It is more common in boys than girls.
Frontal plagiocephaly is the next most common form. It is the closure of one side of the suture that runs from ear to ear on the top of the head. It is more common in girls.
Metopic synostosis is a rare form of craniosynostosis that affects the suture close to the forehead. The child's head shape may be described as trigonocephaly, and the deformity may range from mild to severe.
SymptomsThe doctor will feel the infant's head and perform a physical exam. A neurological exam would also help diagnose the condition. The following tests may be performed:
The main treatment for craniosynostosis is surgery. Surgery is done while the baby is still an infant. The goals of surgery are:
How well a person does depends on how many sutures are involved and whether other defects are present. Patients who have surgery usually do well, especially those whose condition is not associated with a genetic syndrome.
ComplicationsCraniosynostosis results in head deformity that can be severe and permanent if it is not corrected. Increased intracranial pressure, seizures, and developmental delay can occur.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you think your child's head has an unusual shape. A referral to a pediatric neurologist or neurosurgeon should follow.
PreventionBe sure to bring your child to well-child visits, so your pediatrician can routinely chart the growth of your infant's head over time. This will help identify the problem early if it occurs.
Persons with hereditary craniosynostosis might consider genetic counseling.
ReferencesKinsman SL, Johnston MV. Congenital anomalies of the central nervous system. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 592.
Ridgway EB. Skull deformities. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2004;51(2):359-387.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 11/02/2009
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
how long do children with craniosynostosis live and wat will there limits be
In the case of craniosynostosis, surgery can be accomplished to reopen the prematurely closed regions of the skull. This allows the brain to grow normally
No I have craniosynostosis and i'm an adult. Once you're old they don't care about you. Unless you have money. Lots and lots of money.
Surgery is the common treatment for craniosynostosis. The traditional surgeries involve the exposure of the skull, physical breakage of the fused suture region, and the restoration of the scalp.
With surgery, the prognosis for children with craniosynostosis can be good. However the outlook for children with other forms of microcephaly is poor, and the likelihood of having normal brain function is likewise poor.
Craniosynostosis is the condition where an infant's skull does not grow the right way. The infant's skull starts to turn to bone too early. This can cause abnormal growth leading to an unusual head shape.
The term that means congenital fissure of the skull is craniosynostosis.
The malformations caused by premature closure of the cranial sutures are, collectively, called craniostenosis. These take several different forms, depending on which suture closes prematurely.
The most common causes of papilledema are: tumor of the brain, spinal cord, skull, spinal column, or optic nerve, abscess, craniosynostosis, hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, intracranial infection, head injury
Craniosynostosis, is a medical condition in which some or all of the sutures in the skull of an infant or child close too early, causing problems with normal brain and skull growth. It can result in craniostenosis, which is the skull deformity caused by the premature closure of the cranial sutures. Also intracranial pressure can be increased. se too early, causing problems with normal brain and skull growth. It can result in craniostenosis, which is the skull deformity caused by the premature closure of the cranial sutures. Also intracranial pressure can be increased. FROM 8021057561
NO! It is a biological condition that the child was born with. About 1 in 1000 babies are born with it & it is most often a matter of heredity. Some medications taken while pregnant & and even smoking may increase the frequency but the links are far from certain.
This condition causes the skull to bulge because the soft spot becomes hard. If left untreated the baby could die or become severely retarded. The condition can be corrected through surgery by cutting the skull into four quadrants. I cannot remember the name for this condition! The name of the condition is called craniosynostosis.