Craniosynostosis (Head Distortion)

What is Craniosynostosis (Head Shape Disorder)?

Craniosynostosis (head deformity) is head deformity that develops due to the premature closure of one or more of the growth lines called sutures in the head of children.

What Causes Craniosynostosis?

While the closure of the sutures with growth lines may occur spontaneously, it occurs familial and inherited especially in some syndromes and disease groups.
 

What Are the Types of Craniosynostosis?

There are two main types:

• Simple Synostoses
• Syndromic Synostoses
• Simple Synostoses

These are synostoses in which a single suture is retained. They cause a certain deformity. These are the most common. For example;

• Sagittal Synostosis: The head shape in scaphocephaly is long in the anterior-posterior plane, thin and flat on the side. The forehead is protruding.
• Coronal Synostosis: In plagiocephaly, there is unilateral flattening of the head and eyeball on that side. When it deteriorates together on both sides, the head becomes flattened in the anterior-posterior plane, this is called Brachycephaly.
• Metopic Synostosis: Trigonocephaly, because the metopic suture in the middle is closed in the front, the forehead cannot grow to the sides, the appearance of the head becomes triangular and a sharpness occurs in the middle of the forehead.

Syndromic Synostoses

More than one suture is involved and develops against the background of some important syndromes. It looks heavier. For example;

• In Apert and Crouzon syndromes, many sutures are involved and facial development is impaired. Apert is accompanied by syndactyly of the fingers (inability of the fingers to separate from each other).

What Are Other Medical Conditions Associated with Craniosynostosis?

The problem is more than just a cosmetic problem, it can cause neurological disorders by increasing intracranial pressure in some cases.

How is Diagnosis Made in Craniosynostosis Disease?

The deformity is clinically recognized at an early stage by experienced eyes. Three-dimensional computed tomography, which is advanced radiological imaging possibilities, reveals the deformity.
 

How Is Craniosynostosis Treated?

Open Surgical Intervention

In scaphocephaly, the closed midline bone structure is opened and stretching is performed on both sides. In other ways, unilateral and bilateral forehead and eyeball region forward and correction surgery is performed.
 

Closed Endoscopic Intervention and Helmet Use

In babies up to three months, only the closed suture is opened with smaller incisions. But after a few months
Helmets must be worn at all times.
 

Set

• Pediatric Neurosurgery: Prof. Dr. Nurperi Gazioğlu, Prof.Dr. Tufan Everdonmez

 

Which Department Takes Care of Craniosynostosis?

• Pediatrics
• Child Neurology
• Orthodontist
• neuroradiologist
• Genetics Specialist