(pronounced crane-eo-sin-os-TOW-sis)
What is Craniosynostosis?
The normal skull consists of several plates of bone that are separated by sutures. The sutures are found between the bony plates in the head. As the infant grows and develops, the sutures close, forming a solid piece of bone, called the skull.
Craniosynostosis is a condition in which the sutures close too early, causing problems with normal brain and skull growth. Premature closure of the sutures may also cause the pressure inside of the head to increase and the skull or facial bones to change from a normal, symmetrical appearance.
There are 4 different kinds of Craniosynostoses. Which are named based on the suture that has prematurely closed. The following are listed from the most common to rare.
Sagittal Synostosis, Coronal Synostosis, Metopic Synostosis, Lambdoid Synostosis
Hudson Synostosis is Trigonocephaly Metopic.
The incidence of which is somewhere between one in 2,500 to one in 3,500 births. The reason for this range is that it is sometimes difficult to determine if a child has trigonocephaly or not. Some children may be very mildly affected and do not require treatment. Hudsons is "moderate" on a scale from mild to severe which does require surgery.
Trigonocephaly involves fusion of the metopic suture. The metopic suture runs from the top of the head, at the fontanel or soft spot, down the center of the forehead to the nose. It is different from the other sutures of the skull because it is the only one that normally begins closing in infancy.
A ridge can easily be seen running down the center of the forehead and the fontanel is usually absent, or closed. In looking straight on at your child, in addition to seeing a ridge running down the center of the forehead, the forehead will look narrow, and the child's eyes are usually spaced closer together than is normal. When viewed from above the forehead has a triangular shape, like the bow of a boat.
Hudson Synostosis is Trigonocephaly Metopic.
The incidence of which is somewhere between one in 2,500 to one in 3,500 births. The reason for this range is that it is sometimes difficult to determine if a child has trigonocephaly or not. Some children may be very mildly affected and do not require treatment. Hudsons is "moderate" on a scale from mild to severe which does require surgery.
Trigonocephaly involves fusion of the metopic suture. The metopic suture runs from the top of the head, at the fontanel or soft spot, down the center of the forehead to the nose. It is different from the other sutures of the skull because it is the only one that normally begins closing in infancy.
A ridge can easily be seen running down the center of the forehead and the fontanel is usually absent, or closed. In looking straight on at your child, in addition to seeing a ridge running down the center of the forehead, the forehead will look narrow, and the child's eyes are usually spaced closer together than is normal. When viewed from above the forehead has a triangular shape, like the bow of a boat.
Here are some pictures showing his metopic characteristics:
