craniosynostosis…

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skull of a newborn, premature closure of sutures, craniosynostosis, congenital defect, meaning it is present at birth, sutures, connections between skull bones, prematurely close, first year of life, an abnormally shaped skull, craniosynostosis, in an infant's head, sutures mark the boundaries between the flat bones that make up the skull, premature closure of these sutures stops bony growth, results in deformity, the skull, the deformity is determined by which sutures, involved, condition hereditary, a genetic defect, occur sporadically, family, no other affected relatives, hereditary form often occurs, defects, cause seizures, diminished intellectual capacity, blindness, most cases, sporadic, non-hereditary, children, craniosynostosis, healthy, have normal intelligence, absence, the normal feeling of a "soft spot", fontanelle, on the newborn's skull, disappearance, the fontanelle early, a raised hard ridge, along the affected sutures, unusual head shape, no increase, in the head size over time, the baby grows, a neurologic exam would help diagnose the condition, measuring the infant's head circumference, doctor feeling the skull, x-rays, the skull, a ct scan, the head, main treatment, craniosynostosis is surgery, infancy, surgical goal, relieve pressure, assure that the skull has the capacity to accommodate the brain's growth, improve the appearance, the child's head, sporadic from of craniosynostosis, results after surgery, generally good, craniosynostosis that occurs, inherited syndromes, has less optimal outcomes, syndromes, seizures, developmental delay, blindness, craniosynostosis, depending on whether single, multiple skull sutures, involved, presence of other abnormalities, outlook is better, a single suture involved, no other abnormalities, craniosynostosis results in head deformity, severe, permanent, not corrected, raised intracranial pressure, seizures, developmental delay, think child's head has an unusual shape, a referral to a pediatric neurologist, neurosurgeon should follow, genetic counseling, hereditary craniosynostosis desired, sure to bring child to well-child visits, pediatrician, routinely chart the growth, infant's head over time, help identify the problem early, it occurs.