The early closing of the bones in a baby’s skull, so making the skull contract.
A condition involving premature closing or absence of joints, or sutures, in the skull; a baby with this condition is born without fontanelles, or spaces between the plates of the skull to allow for growth. Causes of the disorder are unclear. Craniosynostosis is associated with some bone disorders, such as rickets, and with some birth defects or an abnormally small brain, but it can occur in babies with no other obvious disorders. To prevent brain damage, the plates of the skull need to be separated surgically within a few months after birth.
Premature closing of the cranial sutures during the first 18 months of life.
Premature or early closure of one or more of the openings in the skull of a newborn. Babies are normally born with the seven bones of the skull separated by fibrous borders (sutures). The soft spot where sutures intersect is called a fontanelle. The fact that the bones of the skull are not solidly fused at birth enables the shape of the infant’s head to mold as it passes through the birth canal and later permits the skull to expand as the brain grows in early infancy. In craniosynostosis, the sutures close too early. A deformed skull, pressure on the brain, and vision problems can result. The cause is not always known, although some types of craniosynostosis are inherited. In some cases, it occurs because the brain is not growing properly. Craniosynostosis is sometimes accompanied by another birth defect, Polydactyly, the presence of extra fingers and toes at birth.
Premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures, the junctions between the bones of the skull, leads to an atypical cranial shape, resulting in an abnormal skull formation.
Premature fusion of the cranial sutures, known as craniosynostosis, can occur in infants, leading to potential brain compression and the associated risk of brain damage due to elevated intracranial pressure. In cases where the abnormality is confined to specific areas, it can result in cranial deformities.
The occurrence of craniosynostosis before birth can be linked to accompanying congenital anomalies. Additionally, it may manifest in an otherwise thriving infant or in a baby affected by a condition like rickets.
In cases where the brain has experienced compression, a surgical procedure may be undertaken to surgically separate the fused cranial bones.