Craniosynostosis:
Craniosynostosis means fused bones of the skull. It is a condition that some children are born with or later develop. To better understand craniosynostosis, it is helpful to know that our skulls are not made up of one single “bowl” of bone. Instead, different bones that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle make up the skull. The areas where the bones meet one another are called sutures. As a baby grows the brain rapidly increases in size. According to current theories of growth, the growing brain pushing on the bones of the skull causes the skull bones to expand or grow. When one of these sutures is fused too early, it is called craniosynostosis. There will be no growth in this area. This inability to grow in one area may lead to overgrowth in another area. This results in an abnormally shaped skull.
For more detailed information, please download our free booklet, A Guide to Understanding Craniosynostosis.
