How common is synostosis?

Craniosynostosis is common and occurs in one out of 2,200 live births. The condition affects males slightly more often than females.

Why does synostosis happen?

Its cause is unknown, although it's thought to be a combination of genes and environmental factors. Syndromic craniosynostosis is caused by certain genetic syndromes, such as Apert syndrome, Pfeiffer syndrome or Crouzon syndrome, which can affect a baby's skull development.

Where does synostosis occur?

It happens when the metopic suture fuses. The metopic suture is at the front of the skull. Metopic synostosis can cause a triangle-shaped head. The child will have a narrow forehead and eyes that are close together.

How common is sagittal synostosis?

Sagittal synostosis is the most common form of synostosis accounting for about 50% of all cases with a prevalence of 1 in 2000 live births. Premature fusion of the sagittal suture restricts the transverse growth of the skull. This results in an increased anteroposterior skull length to accommodate the growing brain.

How do you fix synostosis?

Treating craniosynostosis usually involves surgery to unlock and bones and reshape the skull. Historically, craniosynostosis has been treated using surgical methods that involve an incision from ear to ear and the removal, reshaping, and reattachment of affected bones. Sometimes this is still the best option.

Craniosynostosis and its treatment | Boston Children’s Hospital

Is craniosynostosis rare?

Craniosynostosis is common and occurs in one out of 2,200 live births. The condition affects males slightly more often than females. Craniosynostosis is most often sporadic (occurs by chance) but can be inherited in some families.

How many babies are born with craniosynostosis?

Researchers estimate that about 1 in every 2,500 babies is born with craniosynostosis in the United States.

At what age is craniosynostosis usually diagnosed?

Slight imperfections in your baby's head are normal, especially in the first month after birth. But as your baby grows, a misshapen head could be a sign of something else. The earlier you can get a diagnosis—ideally, before the age of 6 months—the more effective treatment can be.

At what age does a baby's skull fuse?

When babies are born their skulls are soft, which helps them pass through the birth canal. It can take 9-18 months before a baby's skull is fully formed. During this time some babies develop positional plagiocephaly.

When should I be concerned about my baby's head shape?

Let your doctor know immediately if you notice anything unusual or different about your baby's head shape, like: your baby's head shape is still misshapen 2 weeks or more after birth. a bulging or swollen spot on your baby's head. a sunken soft spot on your baby's head.

Is it normal to have uneven skull?

Not everyone has the same skull shape, and normal variations exist among individuals. The skull is not perfectly round or smooth, so it is normal to feel slight bumps and ridges. However, a dent in the head, especially if it is new, requires a trip to the doctor to determine the cause.

Why does my baby have a ridge on his head?

In an infant only a few minutes old, the pressure from delivery compresses the head. This makes the bony plates overlap at the sutures and creates a small ridge. This is normal in newborns. In the next few days, the head expands and the overlapping disappears.

Why does my baby have a ridge on his forehead?

Your baby's skull is made up of bony plates that are connected by flexible joints called sutures. A metopic ridge is a ridge of bone that forms on an infant's forehead along the suture line between the two frontal bones. Usually, these joints remain open and flexible until an infant's second birthday.

Does craniosynostosis run in families?

Craniosynostosis is often noticeable at birth, but can also be diagnosed in older children. This condition sometimes runs in families, but most often it occurs randomly.

Can craniosynostosis be prevented?

Can Craniosynostosis be prevented? Genetic counseling is recommended to detect chromosomal and genetic forms of Craniosynostosis. Nothing is known to prevent isolated cases of the disorder.

Does mild craniosynostosis need surgery?

A small number of babies with mild craniosynostosis won't need surgical treatment. Rather, they can wear a special helmet to fix the shape of their skull as their brain grows. Most babies with this condition will need surgery to correct the shape of their head and relieve pressure on their brain.

Why is my baby's head not round?

What causes a baby's head shape to appear uneven? Sometimes a newborn's head is molded unevenly while passing through the birth canal. Babies are born with soft areas on their heads called fontanels. The skull bones in the soft spots haven't yet grown together.

Can craniosynostosis be detected before birth?

It is not typically detected during pregnancy and if so, usually not until the third trimester. How is it diagnosed? Craniosynostosis is most often diagnosed after birth when the infant's head shape is abnormal; however, it can occasionally be detected prenatally through ultrasound.

How do you rule out craniosynostosis?

Imaging studies.

A computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of your baby's skull can show whether any sutures have fused. Cranial ultrasound imaging may be used. Fused sutures can be identified by their absence — because they're invisible once fused — or by a ridging of the suture line.

Does craniosynostosis get worse with age?

The deformity usually gets even more noticeable over time. The head shape depends on the location of the fused skull suture. For example, in the most common type, sagittal synostosis, the skull becomes long and narrow with a broad forehead and a pointy shape in the back.

Do babies with craniosynostosis have trouble sleeping?

Results: Current sleep problems were reported in 19% of patients with single-suture craniosynostosis and 14% of controls (adjusted odds ratio = 1.6; 95% CI, 0.9 to 2.8). Ever having sleep problems was reported in 25% and 23% of cases and controls, respectively (adjusted odds ratio = 1.2; 95% CI, 0.7 to 1.9).

Does craniosynostosis hurt?

In general, craniosynostosis is not a painful condition. However, if there is increased pressure on the brain, it can cause: Abnormalities affecting the face and hands. Headaches.

Is craniosynostosis genetic or environmental?

Craniosynostosis is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some studies suggest that environmental factors such as smoking or taking certain medications during pregnancy may cause the condition to develop in the fetus.

What gene causes craniosynostosis?

Genes most commonly mutated in craniosynostosis are FGFR2, FGFR3, TWIST1 and EFNB1. As well as being associated with syndromes, some clinically non-syndromic synostosis (usually affecting the coronal suture) can be caused by single gene mutations, particularly the Pro250Arg mutation in FGFR3.

Will the ridge on my baby's head go away?

Fortunately, over the next several weeks the bones of your baby's skull will almost assuredly round out and the ridges will disappear—assuming, that is, that your baby doesn't spend too much time on their back with his head in any one position.