Specific treatment for craniosynostosis will be determined by your child's physician based on:
- your child's age, overall health, and medical history
- extent of the craniosynostosis
- type of craniosynostosis (which sutures are involved)
- your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- expectations for the course of the craniosynostosis
- your opinion or preference
Surgery is typically the recommended treatment. The goal of treatment is to reduce the pressure in the head and correct the deformities of the face and skull bones. Learn about surgical treatment options.
In general, the optimal time to perform surgery is before the child is 1 year of age since the bones are still very soft and easy to work with. Surgery may be necessary at a much earlier age depending upon the severity of the condition. In many cases, surgery can be performed as early as 1 month of age. Therefore, an early diagnosis and consultation with a specialist are important.
Before surgery, your child's physician will explain the operation and may review "before and after" photographs of children who may have had a similar type of surgery.
Following the operation, it is common for the child to have a turban-like dressing around his/her head. The face and eyelids may be swollen after this type of surgery. The child is typically transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) after the operation for close monitoring.
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