Children's Hospital Colorado
Craniofacial Program

Craniosynostosis

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What is craniosynostosis?

Craniosynostosis is a condition in which parts of a baby's skull fuse together too soon and cause the head to become misshaped. 

A newborn's skull is made up of seven major plates of bone separated by sutures, the narrow spaces between the plates. Sutures are where much of the growth of the skull happens during infancy. Eventually, all of the sutures close as the plates of bone fuse together forming a solid piece of bone.

An illustration of a newborn skull showing normal size and placement of the plates.

When a baby has craniosynostosis, it means that one or more of the sutures closes earlier than expected. This slows down or stops skull growth in the area of the closed suture. However, the brain keeps growing, which causes an increase in growth in the areas where the sutures are not closed, resulting in uneven skull growth. This leads to an atypical head shape. In some children, craniosynostosis can affect brain growth and development.

Who gets craniosynostosis?

Craniosynostosis occurs in about 1 out of every 2,500 newborn babies and can happen whether the baby has a family history of the condition or not. Children whose parents have craniosynostosis are more likely to have the condition. If a child is born with craniosynostosis, there is about a 4% chance that siblings will also have the condition.

Craniosynostosis is sometimes linked to underlying genetic conditions. A geneticist at Children's Colorado can help your family understand the cause and future risks related to a craniosynostosis diagnosis. There are more than 150 genetic syndromes that are linked to craniosynostosis, including:

Craniosynostosis types

Each type of craniosynostosis has its own characteristics and gets its name based on which suture of the skull closed during development.

Below are types of craniosynostosis that we frequently see at the Craniofacial Program at Children's Colorado. The name of the closed suture is represented in each type and the resulting head shape is in parentheses.

Metopic craniosynostosis (trigonocephaly)

Metopic craniosynostosis and the resulting head shape, trigonocephaly, are characterized by several features, including:

  • Triangular forehead with eyes close together
  • Ridge running up and down the middle of the forehead
  • More common in males than females

An illustration of a baby's skull with the front two plates fused together and labeled Fused metotopic suture. Next to it is an illustration of a baby's head showing the skull protruding out in a line down the center of the forehead.

Metopic craniosynostosis surgery

Sagittal craniosynostosis (scaphocephaly)

Sagittal craniosynostosis and the resulting head shape, scaphocephaly, are characterized by several features, including:

  • Long and narrow head
  • Prominent forehead and occiput (back of head)
  • Ridge running from front to back along the top of the head
  • Most common type of craniosynostosis
  • More common in males than females

An illustration of a baby's skull with the plates fused across the middle and labeled Fused sagittal suture. Next to it is an illustration of a baby's head showing the irregular shape elongating out toward the back.

Sagittal craniosynostosis surgery

Unicoronal craniosynostosis (anterior plagiocephaly)

Unicoronal craniosynostosis and the resulting head shape, anterior plagiocephaly, are characterized by several features, including:

  • One eye appears narrower, while the other eye appears wider
  • One side of the forehead appears more prominent, while the other is flattened
  • Mild curvature to nose
  • Ridge running from the top of the head down one side toward the ear 
  • More common in females than males

An illustration of a baby's skulls with the two plates on the left side fused together and labeled Fused coronal suture. Next to it is an illustration of a baby's head showing a prominent forehead on the opposite side of the suture, a prominent temporal region near the eye on the fused side, and a deviated nose.

Unicoronal craniosynostosis surgery

Unilateral lambdoid craniosynostosis (posterior plagiocephaly)

Unilateral lambdoid craniosynostosis and the resulting head shape, posterior plagiocephaly, are characterized by several features, including:

  • Flat occiput (back of head) on one side
  • One ear may be further back and down than the other ear 
  • The least common type of craniosynostosis that involves only one suture and is not caused by a known syndrome

Why choose the Craniofacial Program at Children's Hospital Colorado?

Our Craniofacial Program is one of the most experienced programs in the nation. With more than 30 years of experience, we are the leading program in the Rocky Mountain region for craniosynostosis treatment. Our program is the only program in Colorado to be approved by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.

Access to pediatric experts from multiple specialties

Patients and families who visit the Craniofacial Program have access to multiple pediatric specialties that all collaborate to treat your child holistically. Pediatric specialists who care for patients in the Craniofacial Program include:

  • Pediatric craniofacial plastic surgeon
  • Pediatric neurosurgeon
  • Pediatric advanced practice nurse
  • Pediatric nurse practitioner
  • Pediatric otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor)
  • Pediatric geneticist
  • Pediatric ophthalmologist (eye doctor)
  • Pediatric orthodontist
  • Pediatric dentist
  • Pediatric anesthesiologist
  • Pediatric social worker
  • Pediatric physical and occupational therapist
  • Pediatric speech pathologist
  • Pediatric audiologist
  • Pediatric neuropsychologist  

Next steps

Get to know our pediatric experts.

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