Craniosynostosis Surgery Corrects Face and Skull Bone Deformities

In a normal skull, you will find various plates of bones that are separated by sutures. When craniosynostosis affects a child, premature closure of sutures occurs and thereby the development of the skull and normal brain are affected. Case-specific treatment is offered for this condition by experienced plastic surgeons at select plastic surgery facilities in the United States.

Craniosynostosis surgery is provided to correct metopic, sagittal, unilateral coronal and multiple suture craniosynostosis. When this surgery is to be done is determined by several factors such as the preference of the caretaker, the age of the child and presence of other medical conditions. Given below are the common forms of Craniosynostosis surgery:

•Calvarial vault remodeling
•Endoscopic surgery

Calvarial Remodeling

This is a common type of surgery for treating craniosynostosis. This is a feasible option if done when the child is six months of age or older. Two or three small incisions are made in the scalp. The surgeon would make extensive bone cuts and bone grafts are manipulated underneath the scalp. This helps to minimize trauma and limit blood loss. Usually a molding helmet is not prescribed because most patients achieve excellent correction with proper positioning care. Reshaping of the skull is also done for giving it a rounder contour. The duration of the surgery is up to 8 hours. The patient may have to be in intensive care for post-surgical monitoring.

Endoscopic Surgery -- a Minimally Invasive Surgery for Craniosynostosis

Usually the plastic surgeon would perform this craniosynostosis surgery when the baby is 3 - 5 months old. The surgeon would perform the surgery using a small tube or an endoscope through which the inside as well as the outside of the scalp can be viewed through incisions.  The surgeon opens the closed suture for stimulating the normal growth of the brain of the baby. The duration of the surgery is around an hour and blood loss is lesser compared to the traditional surgery. Usually a night stay at the hospital will be required. After the surgery, the child may have to wear a molding helmet for allowing the skull to attain a normal shape. Every three months the neurosurgeon has to be visited to check the progress of reshaping. Endoscopic surgery may prevent the need for blood transfusion during the surgery. Other benefits include less post-surgery swelling, reduced operation time and minimum hospital stay. There are no internal plates/screws required to hold the bone in place.

If your child needs craniosynostosis surgery, make sure that you find a plastic surgeon specialized in this procedure. This surgical option can effectively correct face and skull bone deformities and restore a more natural appearance to your child.