Craniosynostosis
Craniosynostosis is a rare condition where a baby's skull does not grow properly and their head becomes an unusual shape. It's usually treated with surgery.
Check if your baby has craniosynostosis
Babies' heads come in all shapes and sizes. It's normal for their head to be a slightly unusual shape. It will often get better as they grow.
But your baby may have a problem like craniosynostosis if:
- their head is long and narrow, like a rugby ball
- their forehead is pointy or triangular
- one side of their head is flattened or bulging out
- the soft spot on the top of their head (fontanelle) disappears before they're 1 year old
If the problem is mild, it may not be noticeable until your child is older.
Rarely, your child may have symptoms such as:
- learning difficulties
- sight or hearing loss
- breathing problems, like not being able to breathe through their mouth
- dental problems, such as missing or crowded teeth
See a GP if:
Your baby or child has symptoms of craniosynostosis and:
- they seem to have problems with their vision or hearing
- they have speech problems or they're slow to start talking
- they have difficulty breathing normally through their mouth, which can lead to snoring and sleep problems at night
You should also see a GP if you're concerned about the development of your child’s head in terms of its shape and size.
What happens at your GP appointment
The GP will examine your child's head. They may also take some measurements to see if it's an unusual size for your child's age.
If they think your child could have craniosynostosis, they may refer them to a specialist centre for more tests, like X-rays or scans.
These tests should help determine what type of craniosynostosis your child has, and what type of treatment they'll need as they grow older.
Treatment for craniosynostosis
If your baby has craniosynostosis they will have regular check-ups to monitor it.
Treatment usually involves surgery. The type of treatment will depend on:
- the type of craniosynostosis your baby has
- their symptoms
- their age
Some cases of craniosynostosis may just be monitored and not need treatment.
Surgery usually involves making a cut across the top of your child’s head, removing and reshaping the affected parts of their skull, and then fixing them back in place.
It's done under general anaesthetic (they will be asleep). Your child may need to stay in hospital for up to a week afterwards.
In some cases it may be possible to treat craniosynostosis with a less invasive procedure called an endoscopy (where a thin, flexible tube is passed through a small incision in the skull), followed by wearing a specially designed helmet.
The care team looking after your baby will talk to you about the options.
Depending on their symptoms, they may also need:
- regular hearing and eye tests and sometimes glasses
- speech and language therapy
- specialist dental treatments
- psychological counselling
- further surgery as an older child or teenager
Long-lasting effects of craniosynostosis
Many children do not have any lasting health problems from craniosynostosis. They may have a scar across the top of their head if they had surgery, but this will be hidden by their hair.
Your child will have regular check-ups to see how they're doing. These may be every few weeks at first but will become less frequent as they get older.
If your child has certain types of craniosynostosis, surgery cannot always fully correct the shape of their head and they may need ongoing care.
Certain types of craniosynostosis can lead to long-term conditions like learning difficulties, hearing loss and problems with sight, such as having a lazy eye.
Find out more
Headlines: information and support for people with craniosynostosis and their families