Why does craniosynostosis occur

What causes craniosynostosis? What are the symptoms of craniosynostosis? What are the different types of craniosynostosis? Different names are given to the various types of craniosynostosis, depending on which sutures are involved, including: Sagittal synostosis is an early closure of fusion of the sagittal suture. This is the most common type of synostosis. This suture runs front to back, down the middle of the top of the head. This fusion causes a long, narrow skull.

The skull is long from front to back and narrow from ear to ear. Coronal synostosis is a fusion of the coronal suture, which limits the normal forehead and brow growth. It creates a flattened forehead and brow on the affected side, with the forehead tending to be overly prominent on the other side. The eye on the affected side may also be misshapen and the back of the head may also be flattened. Metopic synostosis is a fusion of the metopic suture. This suture runs from the top of the head down the middle of the forehead, toward the nose.

Early closure of this suture may cause a prominent ridge running down the forehead. This can make the forehead look pointed, like a triangle, and the eyes look like they are too close together. How is craniosynostosis treated? What is the long-term outlook for a child with craniosynostosis?

Plagiocephaly and Brachycephaly. Contact Us. Meet Our Pediatric Neurosurgeons. Suresh Magge is board certified in neurosurgery who treats kids and teens in Orange County. Although neurological damage can occur in severe cases, most children have normal cognitive development and achieve good cosmetic results after surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment are key. Craniosynostosis Care at Mayo Clinic. The signs of craniosynostosis are usually noticeable at birth, but they'll become more apparent during the first few months of your baby's life.

Signs and severity depend on how many sutures are fused and when in brain development the fusion occurs. These can include:. There are several types of craniosynostosis. Most involve the fusion of a single cranial suture. Some complex forms of craniosynostosis involve the fusion of multiple sutures. Most cases of multiple suture craniosynostosis are linked to genetic syndromes and are called syndromic craniosynostosis.

The term given to each type of craniosynostosis depends on what sutures are affected. Types of craniosynostosis include:.

A misshapen head doesn't always indicate craniosynostosis. For example, if the back of your baby's head appears flattened, it could be the result of spending too much time on one side of his or her head. This can be treated with regular position changes, or if significant, with helmet therapy cranial orthosis to help reshape the head to a more normal appearance. Your doctor will routinely monitor your child's head growth at well-child visits. Talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns about your baby's head growth or shape.

Often the cause of craniosynostosis is not known, but sometimes it's related to genetic disorders. The risk of increased pressure inside the skull intracranial pressure from simple craniosynostosis is small, as long as the suture and head shape are fixed surgically.

But babies with an underlying syndrome may develop increased intracranial pressure if their skulls don't expand enough to make room for their growing brains. Craniosynostosis care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Cranial sutures and fontanels Open pop-up dialog box Close. The surgery lasts approximately one hour and rarely requires a blood transfusion. After the surgery, the child is observed overnight on the regular neurosurgical floor, and is then discharged.

Usually there is no swelling around the eyes. Minimally invasive surgery produces the most successful outcomes when performed on children before the age of six months. With minimally invasive techniques, reshaping of the head occurs after surgery with the assistance of either a cranial molding helmet or implanted custom springs. The cranial molding helmet has a hard outer shell with moldable foam on the inside. It does not press the skull into shape, but rather directs the growth of the skull into a more normal shape.

Because the helmet relies on the high rate of skull growth in the first year of life, helmet-assisted surgery is usually done between 10 to 14 weeks of age. The helmet requires no additional surgery, however frequent visits to an orthotist are required. Stainless steel cranial expander springs are implanted after the closed suture is opened. The springs are then removed three months later.

Spring-assisted surgery is performed between the ages of three to six months. The springs require a second surgery for removal but not the use of the helmet. In very rare cases, when most or all of the sutures are closed, cranial distraction can be used to create more space inside of the skull.

After the bones are unlocked, distractors are implanted across the bone cut. Three months later, the distractors are removed at a second surgery. The Center for Complex Craniofacial Disorders and Neurosurgery expertly care for children with craniosynostosis.

Our pediatric neurosurgeons are trained in treating children with craniosynostosis using some of the most advanced surgical techniques and equipment. Whenever possible, we conduct minimally invasive surgeries requiring only small incisions.

Differentiating Craniosynostosis from Positional Plagiocephaly. Guide to Understanding Positional Plagiocephaly. While teasing and bullying are concerns for all parents, children with craniofacial conditions may be especially vulnerable because of the visibility of their facial appearance differences and speech or learning.

Bringing a baby home from the hospital can be a scary time for a parent as they navigate the first few months as an expanded family. We consider microcephaly and macrocephaly, along with the diagnosis and management of positional plagiocephaly and craniosynostosis.

Big complex names, yes; but also fairly common problems. Skip to Content. Urgent Care. In This Section. Conditions We Treat Craniosynostosis. What is Craniosynostosis? How Common is Craniosynostosis?