Craniosynostosis
Craniosynostosis is a birth abnormality in which one or more of the bones of a baby's skull fuse together before the brain is fully formed. Because the brain continues to grow, the head can take on a misshapen appearance.
Craniosynostosis treatment in Wichita, Kansas
Our pediatric orthopedists provide comprehensive care for your little one in a cheerful, child-friendly environment.
At Wesley Healthcare, our highly-skilled, specialized physicians are experts in diagnosing and treating craniosynostosis — a condition of the skull in infants. We are committed to helping you and your child navigate this condition with compassionate support.
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What is craniosynostosis?
In a normal skull of a baby, sutures (fibrous or fixed joints) between the bone plates of the skull close as the infant grows. The closing of the sutures forms the solid skull. However, craniosynostosis occurs when the fibrous joints close too early.
Premature closure of the sutures in the bone plates can cause problems with brain and skull growth. It can also create pressure inside the skull, which may cause abnormal appearances of the face or head.
Our pediatric orthopedics program in Wichita offers comprehensive care for babies and children with craniosynostosis. Wesley Children's Hospital is designed to meet the unique needs of children and their families. Tests and procedures take place in our cheerful, child-friendly environment, and surgeries take place at our Pediatric Surgery Clinic.
Causes of craniosynostosis
Craniosynostosis occurs sporadically, however, it is a feature of several genetic syndromes that have varying inheritance patterns and chances of reoccurrence. If a child does have craniosynostosis, the child and his or her family members may be examined for signs of a cause of the genetic syndrome, such as limb, ear or cardiovascular abnormalities.
Craniosynostosis may be inherited in one of two ways:
- Autosomal recessive means that two copies of an abnormal gene, one inherited from each parent, are necessary to create the condition. Carrier parents have a 25 percent chance in each pregnancy to have a child with craniosynostosis.
- Autosomal dominant means that one gene is necessary to create the condition and the gene is passed from one parent to the child with a 50 percent chance of occurrence in each pregnancy.
Types of craniosynostosis
There are different types of craniosynostosis, and each is named for the type of suture involved. At Wesley Children’s Hospital, our specialists have experience diagnosing and treating all types of craniosynostosis, including:
Anterior plagiocephaly
Anterior plagiocephaly, also called coronal synostosis, affects the left or right coronal suture that runs between the ears. This type of craniosynostosis causes the forehead and brow to stop growing, which may make your baby’s forehead and affected brow appear to be flattened.
Posterior plagiocephaly
Posterior plagiocephaly affects the lambdoid suture, which runs along the back of the head. This type of craniosynostosis may cause your baby’s head to look flattened or tilted on one side.
Trigonocephaly
Trigonocephaly affects the suture in the forehead, called the metopic, which runs down the middle of the forehead toward the nose. This type of craniosynostosis may cause your baby’s forehead to look pointed or with a ridge in the middle.
Scaphocephaly
Scaphocephaly affects the sagittal suture, which runs down the middle of the top of the head. This type of craniosynostosis may cause your baby’s head to appear narrow.
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