Rylan
Craniosynostosis
Home
Surgery Pictures
Family Pictures
Craniosynostosis

(CRAY-NEE-O-SIN-OS-TOE-SIS)

A baby's skull is made up of five bones held together by fibrous material called sutures. Normally, these sutures remain open as long as the brain is growing. This allows the brain room to grow in all directions. Craniosynostosis, or closure of these sutures, occurs when the bones in a baby's skull fuse together before the brain has stopped growing. This can happen before a baby is born or in the first few months of life. If a suture closes before it is supposed to, the brain will grow in the direction of least resistance. This causes a misshapen skull or face.

The different types of craniosynostosis are as follows:

Sagittal (SAJ-ut-ul)

Closure of the sagittal suture is the most common form of craniosynostosis. It occurs in three to five babies for every 1,000 live births, usually in males. A baby with this will have an elongated head, protrusion of the forehead and narrowing of the temples.

Coronal (co-RO-nul)

With this type, the coronal suture on the side of the head is closed. This causes the baby to have a flattened forehead, an elevation of the eye socket of the involved side, a deviated nose and a slanted skull.

 

Metopic (mih-TOP-ick)

This is the early closure of the metopic suture. This causes the baby to have a pointed forehead, a triangular shaped skull, eyes that seem too close together and protrusion of the back of the skull.
   

Lambdoidal (lam-DOID-ul)

Early closure of the lambdoid suture. This causes the baby to have a mild flattening of the back of the head on the involved side. It can also cause the ear on the affected side to shift forward as well as causing the deformities that occur with coronal craniosynostosis.

Sutures of the Skull
Sutures of the Skull

Sutures of the Skull

Treatments include:

Strip Craniectomy
 
 
Endoscopic Strip Craniectomy
 
 
Spring Strip Craniectomy
 
 
Cranial Vault Reconstruction (CVR)

Links