How long does it take to recover from craniosynostosis surgery?
The bones will be healed 6 weeks after surgery but trauma to the head should be avoided. Parents sometimes notice small areas of swelling 8-12 months after surgery as the plates begin to dissolve. Patients undergoing surgery for craniosynostosis are typically seen annually by their surgeons until they are done growing.
How common is coronal craniosynostosis?
Craniosynostosis is common and occurs in one out of 2,200 live births. The condition affects males slightly more often than females. Craniosynostosis is most often sporadic (occurs by chance) but can be inherited in some families.
What happens after craniosynostosis surgery?
Immediately after surgery, there may be significant swelling of the head which will mostly resolve within the first few days to weeks after surgery. Complete resolution of swelling may take several months. Your child may have slight irregularities or soft spots on their head following craniosynostosis surgery.
Does craniosynostosis cause brain damage?
Sometimes, if the condition is not treated, the build-up of pressure in the baby’s skull can lead to problems, such as blindness, seizures, or brain damage.
What causes coronal craniosynostosis?
Causes and Risk Factors The causes of craniosynostosis in most infants are unknown. Some babies have a craniosynostosis because of changes in their genes. In some cases, craniosynostosis occurs because of an abnormality in a single gene, which can cause a genetic syndrome.
When do coronal sutures close in babies?
These sutures allow the skull to grow as the baby’s brain grows. Around two years of age, a child’s skull bones begin to join together because the sutures become bone. When this occurs, the suture is said to “close.” In a baby with craniosynostosis, one or more of the sutures closes too early.
What is coronal synostosis?
Coronal synostosis is one type of craniosynostosis affecting the shape of the front of the head. The term craniosynostosis refers to the premature fusion of the bones of an infant’s head. The skilled surgeons of St. Louis Children’s Hospital treat coronal synostosis and all other types of craniosynostosis in infants.
When does the coronal suture close?
24 years
The average age of coronal suture closure is 24 years; however, numerous diseases and factors may cause the dysfunction of a suture. The most common dysfunction is early closure or abnormal closure of a suture or group of sutures of the skull. Premature ossification of the sutures is referred to as craniosynostosis.
Is craniosynostosis surgery brain surgery?
The surgery involves a strip craniectomy and placement of two to three stainless steel springs to help increase the amount of room for the brain to grow, improve the skull shape, and reduce the risk of the sagittal suture closing again.
Can craniosynostosis come back after surgery?
Re-synostosis after standard surgical procedures for nonsyndromic craniosynostosis is a rare event, which can occur at the same suture or rarely in adjacent sutures.
Can you feel coronal suture?
When both coronal sutures are affected, a ridge can be felt on both sides of the head running from the top of the skull down the sides in front of the ears.
At what age does the coronal suture close?
Does craniosynostosis surgery leave scars?
The coronal incision is the mainstay for access in craniosynostosis surgery. Scarring is a common concern of parents whose children are offered an open procedure.