Craniosynostosis

Treatment Overview

Surgery is the usual treatment to correct craniosynostosis. The surgeon removes strips of bone in the skull to create artificial sutures, which relieves pressure on the brain and allows the skull to expand normally. After surgery, your baby's skull should return to its normal shape and continue to grow without deformity.

The timing of surgery is very important. Usually, the earlier the diagnosis and surgery, the better the results. When done early, surgery not only corrects your baby's head shape but also may help prevent complications, such as developmental delays or permanent disabilities.

Several factors will help determine the timing of the surgery to correct craniosynostosis, including how severe the condition is, what your doctor recommends, and what your preferences are.

• If only one suture has closed prematurely and there is no evidence of pressure on your child's brain, your baby's doctor may recommend waiting to see whether your baby's head shape returns to normal without treatment. During this time, your baby may wear devices, such as a specially designed helmet, to help the skull resume its normal shape. However, your child may eventually need surgery.
• Surgery to correct only one suture that has closed too soon may be done when the baby is between the ages of 3 months and 1 year.
• Surgery may be needed before a baby is 6 months of age if craniosynostosis affects more than one suture. This is a more severe form of the condition and usually causes pressure on the child's brain.
• If the pressure building on the brain is severe enough to cause brain damage, your baby will need surgery as soon as possible.

Most babies with craniosynostosis need only one surgery to correct the condition, and complications are not common. However, if complications develop, they are often related to excessive bleeding or injury to the baby's eyes or brain.

Newer surgical techniques for craniosynostosis are less invasive than traditional surgery. They generally result in less blood loss and fewer risks, and may be especially useful for treating babies who are 3 months of age and younger. One such technique, endoscopic-assisted strip craniectomy, sometimes requires the baby to wear a custom-made helmet after surgery until he or she is about 1 year of age.⁵

Occasionally a child requires additional surgery or other treatments. Often this is because the craniosynostosis is severe, surgery was delayed, or complications have developed.

Counseling or support groups may help you manage the stress related to having a child with craniosynostosis. Ask your doctor about contacting support groups or other parents of children with craniosynostosis.

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Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: August 7, 2007
Medical Review:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
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