Treatment for Craniosynostosis

Craniosynostosis is a birth defect and is a condition in which the skull gains an abnormal shape.  Usually the occurrence is seen when 2 bones of the cranium out of the 7 grow abnormally and when the sutures that hold them together experience premature closure. The condition can be experienced when the baby is still in the womb of the mother. In order to correct the deformities of the face and the skull bone, craniosynostosis surgery is definitely the best option. Craniosynostosis can be associated with inherited genes or isolated genes too. In the majority of the cases, only the skull is deformed, but in a few cases deformity of the facial features is seen as well. When it comes to craniosynostosis treatment, surgery is recommended and it is performed on infants who are below one year of age.

Depending on the severity of the condition, the problems listed below may occur:

•   Abnormal shape of skull
•   Asymmetrical eyes or ears
•   Abnormal forehead
•   Intracranial pressure due to which normal brain development may be delayed. If it is not corrected at the right time, then permanent damage may be caused to the brain.

One should choose a good plastic surgeon for performing the surgery. The surgeon should be skilled and experienced enough in providing the corrective procedure for this congenital deformity.

What Are Some the Craniosynostosis Treatment Options?

Craniosynostosis treatment is offered by established centers of plastic surgery for resolving specific conditions:

•   Metopic synostosis

In this condition, the forehead has a triangular shape. The deformity varies widely. Sometimes it is quite mild and requires no operative intervention. However, if the condition is serious, then surgery is required. The surgery is done when the age of the child is nine to eleven months.

•   Sagittal Synostosis

This is a very common type of premature suture fusion. Best results are given by the treatment when the age of the child is below 2 months. The plastic surgeon performs formal cranial vault remodeling for widening the biparietal distance and also for shortening the distance between the frontal and posterior skull. This is a minimally invasive treatment and gives a proper shape to the head.

•   Unilateral coronal synostosis

In this condition, deformities of the forehead, eye and the nose are involved. Best results are given by this reconstructive surgery if it is performed on infants whose age is between nine to twelve months. Reshaping of the bone is done for creating the forehead and a brow. The face looks more symmetrical and natural.

•   Multiple suture synostosis

This condition is very serious and in this multiple sutures of the cranium fuse prematurely. The patient may require various surgeries for correcting this issue. The elevated intracranial pressure can be controlled by multiple techniques.