Craniosynostosis

Overview

Craniofacial disorders occur when congenital (present at birth) imperfections cause irregular growth patterns in a child's face and skull. The condition, called craniosynostosis, results in an abnormally shaped head. Although the physical damage caused by craniosynostosis is primarily cosmetic, children can face crippling emotional damage if the abnormality remains uncorrected.

Mayo Clinic in Minnesota is an innovative leader in the treatment of craniofacial disorders in children. Mayo provides a range of age-appropriate treatment options for craniofacial disorders, including minimally invasive endoscopic surgery.

The treatment of craniosynostosis at Mayo Clinic is a team process. Working together, specialists in Pediatric Neurosurgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Child and Adolescent Neurology, and Pediatric Medical Genetics create a treatment plan that incorporates the most current diagnostic and treatment options available to treat both body and mind.

At Mayo Clinic, patients see multiple specialists who team to offer their diagnosis and recommend treatment, often in the same day.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked No. 1 in Neurology & Neurosurgery in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals in Neurology & Neurosurgery.

Diagnosis

Because most head growth occurs within a child's first year, craniofacial disorders should be diagnosed and treated early in life. Early identification allows a broader range of treatment options than those available if the diagnosis is delayed.

Experienced Mayo specialists often can diagnose craniofacial disorders and identify the cause of an abnormal head shape just by physical examination. Specialists use CT scans or MRIs to confirm the diagnosis, if necessary. They may recommend genetic testing, if an underlying hereditary syndrome is suspected.

Learn more about diagnosis of craniosynostosis at Mayo Clinic.

Treatment

Mayo Clinic offers both minimally invasive endoscopic surgery and traditional open surgery procedures appropriate to the child's age and form of craniofacial disorder.

Treatment of craniosynostosis usually requires surgery to separate the fused bones. In some cases, craniosynostosis may be associated with an abnormality that prevents the brain from growing properly. If there is no underlying brain abnormality, the surgery allows adequate space for the brain to grow and corrects the abnormal shape of the skull.

Children with craniosynostosis often require treatment for several aspects of their condition. At Mayo Clinic, specialists work together to provide intensive, coordinated care.

Learn more about treatment of craniosynostosis at Mayo Clinic.

About Craniosynostosis

Craniosynostosis is a birth defect in which one or more of the sutures (fibrous joints) between the bones of an infant's skull close prematurely, before the infant's brain is fully formed. The bones are fused. As a result, the infant's brain can't grow in its natural shape and the head is misshapen. View types of craniosynostosis.

The cause of craniosynostosis is unknown. Approximately 10,000 to 15,000 cases of craniosynostosis are diagnosed each year in the United States. Craniosynostosis occurs in three to five children for every 1,000 live births. This statistic is based on the assumption that there are 14 live births per 1,000 people, based on a total U.S. population of 300 million.