Craniosynostosis
Craniosynostosis or simply synostosis, is caused by the premature closing of one or more of the sutures of the bones which make up the skull, according to the National Craniofacial Association.
Premature closing doesn’t allow the head to grow as your child grows. The result is an abnormal face or skull shape. Because the brain grows quickly in the first two years of life, pressure can build inside the skull and if not corrected, can cause delays in development or permanent brain damage.
Our pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgery experts understand the impact of synostosis on appearance and development, and deliver outstanding results for all types of craniosynostosis through specialized care along with personal attention to patients and families
Expert diagnosis
The first step is having an accurate diagnosis from a craniofacial expert, so we encourage parents to see a craniofacial team as soon as synostosis is suspected. There are several signs you and your primary care provider will notice about your child: a misshapen head is usually the first clue. Another is the anterior fontanel, or soft spot, may or may not be open. Our pediatric craniofacial and plastic surgeons can determine if your child does have craniosynostosis by performing a physical exam and analyzing results from a computerized tomography (CT) scan. These tests help verify if one or more of the sutures have closed and help to make sure there are no underlying abnormalities in the brain.
Advanced surgical planning and treatment
Craniosynostosis is treated with surgery that opens the fused sutures, creating space for bone and brain growth. There are three types of surgical treatment, and our three pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgeons are experts in each, with a combined 70 years of experience in these techniques. Our plastic surgeons also work with a pediatric neurosurgeon for more complex cases. The type and timing of surgery vary with the age of the child and his or her diagnosis.
Our advanced surgical treatments include:
Minimally invasive surgery: We offer less invasive surgery options for younger children, and our craniofacial surgeons are leaders in “directed growth” techniques. By manipulating the growth plates that are still open, we can use the child’s own growth to optimize long-term success.
Traditional (open) surgery: Cranial vault remodeling is a longer and more complex surgery used for certain diagnoses and for older children. In this procedure, surgeons separate the sutures, reconstruct the skull and put the sutures in the proper position with plates and screws.
Distraction osteogenesis: Also known as osteodistraction, this procedure involves moving two segments of a bone slowly apart in such a way that new bone fills in the gap. It’s done internally in younger children, externally in older children. This technique is used in the more rare cases when children have multiple fused sutures, such as with Crouzon syndrome or Apert syndrome. Our surgeons are not only experienced, but John Polley, MD, developed the device used in rigid external distraction (RED) for maxillofacial surgery.
For complex cases, our surgeons use CT images and special software to develop a virtual 3-D model for the patient’s surgery. This allows our team to carefully plan out each step of the surgery and determine the right technique as well as precise measurements, sometimes just millimeters, needed to achieve the best outcome. This customized virtual plan is then precisely translated to the patient in the operating room.