Craniosynostosis Health Article

Treatment

The main treatment for craniosynostosis is surgery. Surgery is done while the baby is still an infant. The goals of surgery are:

• Relieve any pressure on the brain
• Make sure there is enough room in the skull to allow the brain to properly grow
• Improve the appearance of the child's head

Expectations (prognosis)

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.

Complications

Craniosynostosis 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 provider

Call 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.

Prevention

Be 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.

References

Kinsman 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.