Overview

A newborn baby’s skull consists of several bones that fit together. Usually, newborns have spaces called sutures between their skull bones. The sutures let the skull size grow to accommodate the baby’s growing brain. When the bones of the skull are fused together either at birth or fuse too soon, the condition is called craniosynostosis.

The sutures of the skull fuse around the brain at around age 2 years. When a baby has craniosynostosis, one or more of these sutures hardens too early and closes before the baby reaches age 2.

How does craniosynostosis affect the body?

In places where sutures have fused too early, a baby’s head may stop growing. In other areas, where sutures haven’t fused, the baby’s head will continue to grow. As a result, babies with craniosynostosis often have heads that are asymmetrical (misshapen).

If a baby has multiple sutures that close too early, the brain might not have enough room to grow. As a result, these babies might experience a buildup of pressure in the skull (intracranial pressure).

What are the types of craniosynostosis?

Craniosynostosis types are based on where the sutures close:

  • Sagittal craniosynostosis affects the suture on the top of the head. Babies with sagittal craniosynostosis often have a long, narrow head (scaphocephaly).
  • Coronal craniosynostosis affects one of the coronal sutures, which run from both ears to the top of the head. Babies with this type may have a flat forehead and a broad head.
  • Lambdoid craniosynostosis affects the suture along the back of the head. Babies with this type often have a flat back of the head (plagiocephaly).
  • Metopic craniosynostosis affects the suture that runs from the top of the nose to the top of the forehead. Babies with this type may have a triangular head, with the narrow ridge at the midline of the forehead.

How common is craniosynostosis?

Craniosynostosis is uncommon. It affects about 1 in every 2,500 babies in the United States.

Sagittal craniosynostosis is the most common type of congenital craniosynostosis.

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