CraniosynostosisSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Craniosynostosis
Craniosynostosis is a birth defect in which one or more sutures on a baby's head closes earlier than usual.
The skull of an infant or young child is made up of bony plates that are still growing. The borders at which these plates intersect are called sutures or suture lines. The sutures allow for growth of the skull. They normally close (fuse) by the time the child is 2 or 3 years old.
Early closing of a suture causes the baby to have an abnormally shaped head. This may limit brain growth.
Premature closure of sutures; Synostosis; Plagiocephaly; Scaphocephaly; Fontanelle - craniosynostosis; Soft spot - craniosynostosis
The cause of craniosynostosis is not known. Genes may play a role, but there is usually no family history of the condition. It may be caused by external pressure on a baby's head before birth. Abnormal development of the base of the skull and the membranes around the skull bones is believed to affect the movement and position of the bones as they grow.
In cases when this is passed down through families, it may occur with other health problems, such as seizures, decreased intelligence, and blindness. Genetic disorders commonly linked to craniosynostosis include Crouzon, Apert, Carpenter, Saethre-Chotzen, and Pfeiffer syndromes.
However, most children with craniosynostosis are otherwise healthy and have normal intelligence.
Symptoms depend on the type of craniosynostosis. They may include:
- No "soft spot" (fontanelle) on the newborn's skull
- A raised hard ridge along the affected sutures
- Unusual head shape
- Slow or no increase in the head size over time as the baby grows
Types of craniosynostosis are:
- Sagittal synostosis (scaphocephaly) is the most common type. It affects the main suture on the very top of the head. The early closing forces the head to grow long and narrow, instead of wide. Babies with this type tend to have a broad forehead. It is more common in boys than girls.
- Frontal plagiocephaly is the next most common type. It affects the suture that runs from ear to ear on the top of the head. It usually occurs on just one side, causing a flattened forehead, raised eyebrow, and prominent ear on that side. The baby's nose may also appear to be pulled toward that side. This is more common in girls than in boys.
- Metopic synostosis is a rare form that affects the suture close to the forehead. The child's head shape may be described as trigonocephaly, because the top of the head appears triangular, with a narrow or pointed forehead. It may range from mild to severe.
Surgery is usually needed. It is done while the baby is still an infant. The goals of surgery are:
- Relieve any pressure on the brain.
- Make sure there is enough room in the skull to allow the brain to properly grow.
- Improve the appearance of the child's head.
Cleft Craniofacial Center At Pediatric Plastics In Lawrenceville
Jesse A. Goldstein, MD, is a craniofacial plastic surgeon certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is chief of the Division of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, director of the Cleft-Craniofacial Center at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He is also program director of the Plastic Surgery Residency program and the Craniofacial Fellowship programs and an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Goldstein is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Craniosynostosis. His top areas of expertise are Craniosynostosis, Metopic Ridge, Plagiocephaly, Osteotomy, and Bone Graft.
Johns Hopkins All Children's Outpatient Care, St. Petersburg
Dr. Smyth is chief of the pediatric neurosurgery division at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and director of the pediatric neurosurgery fellowship program. His specialties include pediatric neurosurgery, with sub-specialization in pediatric epilepsy surgery and craniofacial surgery with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques. In addition, Dr. Smyth is a professor of neurosurgery in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Before joining the Johns Hopkins All Children’s medical staff, Dr. Smyth was the Appoline Blair Professor of Neurological Surgery and Pediatrics at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Smyth earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. He completed a general surgery internship in the Department of Surgery at the University of California, Irvine. He then completed a residency in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of California in San Francisco, where he was chief resident. Dr. Smyth completed a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Smyth is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Craniosynostosis. His top areas of expertise are Craniosynostosis, Syringomyelia, Chiari Malformation Type 1, Posterior Fossa Decompression, and Craniectomy.
Fogelson Plastic & Craniofacial Surgery - Children's Specialty Center Dallas
Alex Kane is a Plastic Surgeon in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Kane is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Craniosynostosis. His top areas of expertise are Craniosynostosis, Metopic Ridge, Plagiocephaly, Craniectomy, and Osteotomy.
How well a child does depends on:
- How many sutures are involved
- The child's overall health
Children with this condition who have surgery do well in most cases, especially when the condition is not associated with a genetic syndrome.
Craniosynostosis results in head deformity that can be severe and permanent if it is not corrected. Complications may include:
- Increased intracranial pressure
- Seizures
- Developmental delay
Contact your child's provider if your child has:
- Unusual head shape
- Problems with growth
- Unusual raised ridges on the skull
Summary: Craniosynostosis are cranial deformations due to the premature closure of one or more cranial sutures. These deformations affect approximately one in 2.500 births. In most cases, craniosynostoses are isolated with unknown (non syndrome). On the other hand, 20% of these deformations are associated with other concentration (syndrome). Craniosynostosis has morphological (associated dysmorphism) and f...
Summary: FGF23 is the cornerstone of phosphate / calcium / vitamin D metabolism: it is synthesized mainly by osteocytes and acts as a phosphaturizing agent, inhibitor of dihydroxyvitamin D, and inhibitor of synthesis and secretion of PTH in most tissues. The specific role of FGF23 on bone has yet to be demonstrated. In osteoblasts, overexpression of FGF23 in vitro suppresses not only osteoblastic different...
Published Date: October 03, 2025
Published By: Mary Terrell, MD, NABBLM-C, IBCLC, Neonatologist, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Fayetteville, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Birth defects. Craniosynostosis. www.cdc.gov/birth-defects/about/craniosynostosis.html. Updated December 26, 2024. Accessed November 3, 2025.
Graham JM, Sanchez-Lara PA. Craniosynostosis: general. In: Graham JM, Sanchez-Lara PA, eds. Smith's Recognizable Patterns of Human Deformation. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 29.
Mandela R, Bellew M, Chumas P, Nash H. Impact of surgery timing for craniosynostosis on neurodevelopmental outcomes: a systematic review. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2019;23(4):442-454. PMID: 30684935 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30684935/.
Trowbridge SK, Yang E, Yuskaitis CJ. Congenital anomalies of the central nervous system. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 631.