01/26/2021
Today, we're talking about a less common, though important cause of head shape deformities: ππππππππ’ππππππππ. This is where the skull bones fuse before they are supposed to (that is, before the π§ has finished growing). More than just a cosmetic defect, craniosynostosis can have significant medical (even life-threatening) consequences.
πΆπ» When your baby is first born, their skull is not yet a solid slab of bone. Rather, the skull is made up of multiple segments, much like a loosely held together puzzle π§©. This allows for the skull to grow as your child's brain gets bigger. As the brain reaches adult size, the "puzzle pieces" of the skull fuse and form a tight cohesive skull π.
π Because the early skull has flexible and moldable parts, a baby's skull can become deformed due to various factors.
π The most common reason your baby has a "funny shaped head" is due to reversible things such as π molding during birth π too much time in the car seat π preferentially sleeping on one side of the head π or muscle disorders like torticollis (more on that in our next posts).
π For a parent and pediatrician, the biggest clue π§ to a potential craniosynostosis is an abnormality in head growth (whether size or shape). This is checked AT LEAST at every well check up.
π If you're ever unsure, just mention it to your pediatric provider.
Ref: uptodate,
