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Craniosynostosis, this deformation of the skull of an infant, involves approximately one in 2 births. In 20% of them, on the other hand, craniosynostosis is not isolated and is part of a more complex disease that affects babies, such as Crouzon’s syndrome, Apert’s syndrome or Pfeiffer’s syndrome. We then speak of syndromic craniostenosis. In order to avoid serious complications in her child, craniosynostosis must be taken care of as soon as possible.
How to recognize and diagnose craniosynostosis or craniosynostosis?
The only outwardly visible sign of craniosynostosis – also called craniosynostosis – isdeformed appearance of the skull baby. It is this malformation that will encourage caregivers to push further the first medical examinations of our infant. Radiological examinations will be carried out, but also genetic examinations because in some cases, around 20%, craniosynostosis is linked to a more complex disease, such as Crouzon, Apert or Pfeiffer syndromes. This last situation remains extremely rare.
The diagnosis is made in the majority of cases during a few days after birth. Sometimes craniosynostosis is diagnosed a little later, during the baby’s first months, or a little earlier, during an ultrasound during pregnancy.
The causes: when the fontanel closes too quickly
Craniosynostosis is caused by how the bones of our baby’s skull have come together. The skull of an infant is flexible in some places, these soft areas being called fontanelles. These are used to facilitate the passage of baby to childbirth, but also to let his brain develop without being compressed.
In the majority of cases, the fontanelles gradually ossify during the first years of life. But it can happen that they close too early, during pregnancy or very shortly after birth: this is when craniosynostosis occurs.
For the moment, the reasons which cause this premature welding of the fontanelles are not not known, but they do not appear, according to some studies, to be genetic.
Craniosynostosis or plagiocephaly: what are the differences?
There are several forms of craniosynostosis or craniosynostosis, depending on which fontanelles have ossified. One of them is plagiocephaly, its particularity being that it will cause a right-left asymmetry on the baby’s face. The others are brachycephaly, ocycephaly (affects all sutures), scaphocephaly (bulging forehead or bump inside the head), and trigonocephaly (pointed forehead).
Note: babies can have plagiocephaly independently of craniosynostosis, since this asymmetry, known as “flat head syndrome” and much more common than craniosynostosis, can also be the result of supine position of the infant. If plagiocephaly is not from craniosynostosis but from being asleep, it will resolve on its own with the baby’s development of motor skills, or with the help of wearing an infant mold helmet.
What are the symptoms for baby?
Craniosynostosis can be very dangerous for our newborn baby. The main risk is that of cranial hypertension : the fontanelles being already welded, the brain is compressed and the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid inside the cranium is too high. However, cranial hypertension can cause:
- headache
- eye disorders
- cognitive impairment
- hearing problems
- nausea and vomiting
- dizziness
Craniosynostosis must therefore be diagnosed and medical treatment as soon as possible for the well-being and health of our child. In addition, this cranial malformation also has aesthetic consequences and affects the harmony of the face of our infant.
What is microcephaly?
Microcephaly is theone of the consequences of craniosynostosis, it is about the absence of evolution of the cranial perimeter. Microcephaly is characterized by a head circumference less than -3DS.
Surgery and operation: when to operate for craniosynostosis?
The sooner the better to operate on baby for craniosynostosis. A child can be operated as soon as it weighs 6 kg, weight from which its blood mass allows a safe operation. In general, the operation therefore takes place between 3 and 9 months. This is performed under general anesthesia, and aims to reshape our baby’s skull: his cranial bones will be cut, removed and then replaced so as to leave more room for his brain. Absorbable materials will be used to keep the cranial bones in the correct position.
Although very impressive, this operation should not cause no harm to the child, except a scar that goes from one ear to the other and which will quickly be hidden by the growth of his hair. In general, a child is hospitalized for a short week for this operation, and he will be medically monitored for up to fifteen years.
Are there other treatments for this malformation?
To treat craniosynostosis, treatment is only surgical. There is currently no other way to resolve this malformation of the skull of a newborn baby and avoid any risk of intracranial hypertension.