Craniosynostosis Care

Is My Baby’s Head Shape Normal?

It’s common for a newborn to have a misshapen head immediately after birth. This can be because of the baby's position in the womb or birth canal pressure during delivery. A newborn’s misshapen head typically begins to correct itself days after birth. If it persists, you should ask your child’s pediatrician for an evaluation.

What Are Craniofacial Differences?

Craniofacial differences are malformations affecting a child’s face or head present from birth.

Craniosynostosis

Craniosynostosis is one type of craniofacial difference. Normally, the fibrous connective tissues holding your baby’s skull together stretch and produce new bone. This allows the skull to expand as the brain grows.

The skull bones usually stay flexible and separate for about 12 to 18 months after birth. Craniosynostosis occurs if any suture in the skull closes before the brain fully forms. Early closure means the brain cannot grow in its natural shape. This causes the head to grow in an abnormal shape.

Specialized Pediatric Care Team

Benefit from a team of skilled specialists working together to meet your child’s medical needs. Dr. Izabela Tarasiewicz is the neurosurgeon directly involved with your child's care.

Other members of your multidisciplinary pediatric care team may include:

• Nurse coordinator
• Geneticists
• Ophthalmologists (eye doctors)
• Otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat doctors)
• Audiologists (hearing doctors)
• Pediatric nurses
• Social workers
• Speech therapists
• Orthodontist
• Pediatric dentist
• Pediatric developmental provider
• Cranial remolding program

Early Diagnosis Is Key

Early diagnosis and treatment for craniosynostosis are important. After birth, your baby’s brain grows and develops extremely quickly. The sutures should be flexible to allow for rapid growth. If your baby has craniosynostosis and goes untreated, the condition can prevent proper bone growth and limit or slow brain growth and development.

Craniosynostosis Treatment Expertise

Depend on our experts to help minimize the effects of craniosynostosis on your infant’s appearance and development. The University Health Center for Endoscopic and Open Craniosynostosis Surgery is among the nation’s leading centers for diagnosing, treating and developing treatments for infants with various types of craniosynostosis.

What to Expect at Your First Visit

Your child's primary care provider will refer you to our craniofacial team. At your first visit with us, you can expect:

• The craniofacial team to order a CT scan of your child, if needed
• If the CT shows concerns for craniosynostosis, we will help you schedule an appointment with surgeons
• A one-hour visit with surgeons to discuss the option of surgery

Advantages of Choosing Us

Our craniofacial program attracts patients from around the country because we offer:

• Comprehensive care all under one roof
• Virtual surgical planning for craniosynostosis treatment to improve your child’s recovery
• Full scope of specialized care and information for any craniofacial difference to put you and your child at ease
• Highly skilled, multispecialty team
• Minimally invasive procedures for craniosynostosis that reduce scarring and the need for blood transfusions
• Minimal hospital stays after surgery unless your child needs additional monitoring or treatment
• Specialized cranial remolding program

Craniosynostosis Care Collaboration

Count on us to develop a safe, coordinated treatment plan for your child. When you choose University Children’s Health for care, you don’t have to worry about managing your child’s craniosynostosis treatment with different specialists. All of the providers and care you need are available through us.