Craniosynostosis consists of premature fusion of 1 or more cranial sutures, often resulting in an abnormal head shape. Craniosynostosis is a condition in which the sutures close too early, causing problems with normal brain and skull growth. Premature closure of the sutures may also cause the pressure inside of the head to increase and the skull or facial bones to change from a normal, symmetrical appearance. There are several different types of craniosynostosis. The most common types are sagittal synostosis. Sagittal synostosis affected the suture at the top of the skull.
Metopic synostosis affecting the suture down the center of the brow. Unilateral coronal synostosis - affecting the suture on one position of the skull, and multilateral coronal synostosis - affecting the sutures at both sides of the skull. Craniosynostosis may too seem as region of an amount of syndromes such as Apert's syndrome. Craniosynostosis occurs in one out of 2,000 lively births and affects males twice as frequently as females. Craniosynostosis is almost frequently intermittent (occurs by opportunity. The reason is unidentified in most children. However, hereditary syndromes account for 10 to 20 percentage of cases.
Other important factors to consider differentiating plagiocephaly that results from positional molding (which does not require surgery and is seen frequently) from lambdoid suture fusion is extremely important. Craniosynostosis is equally distributed in both boys and girls. In the United States, the incidence of craniosynostosis is estimated to be 1 in 2000–3000 live births. Craniosynostosis signs of a syndromic cause (inherited genetic disorder) of craniosynostosis such as limb defects or ear abnormalities. . Mental retardation may occur in these disorders and is more likely in cases where the closure of the sutures is greatest.
The treatment of craniosynostosis requires surgical correction. Surgery is typically used to separate the fused sutures of the skull as well as to reshape the skull. For some children with less severe problems, cranial molds can reshape the skull to accommodate brain growth and improve the appearance of the head. Genetic counseling may be recommended by the physician to evaluate the parents of the child for any hereditary disorders that may tend to run in families. A child with craniosynostosis requires frequent medical evaluations to ensure that the skull, facial bones, and brain are developing normally.
