They stay connected throughout adulthood. The sutures and fontanelles are needed for the infant's brain growth and development. During childbirth, the flexibility of the sutures allows the bones to overlap so the baby's head can pass through the birth canal without pressing on and damaging their brain.
During infancy and childhood, the sutures are flexible. This allows the brain to grow quickly and protects the brain from minor impacts to the head such as when the infant is learning to hold his head up, roll over, and sit up. Without flexible sutures and fontanelles, the child's brain could not grow enough. The child would develop brain damage. Feeling the cranial sutures and fontanelles is one way that health care providers follow the child's growth and development.
They are able to assess the pressure inside the brain by feeling the tension of the fontanelles. The fontanelles should feel flat and firm. Bulging fontanelles may be a sign of increased pressure within the brain. In this case, providers may need to use imaging techniques to see the brain structure, such as CT scan or MRI scan. Your doctor will help to make sure it is not due to a more serious condition called Craniosynostosis.
When babies are born their skulls are soft, which helps them pass through the birth canal. During this time some babies develop positional plagiocephaly. This means that there is a flat area on the back or side of the head. Positional plagiocephaly does not affect brain growth or development; it is purely a shape issue.
A flat area on the back or side of the head is commonly caused by repeated pressure to the same area. This usually happens when a child prefers to lay on his or her head on the same spot, causing the head to be misshapen. Other causes include:. In many children the flattening is corrected as the child becomes more mobile and lies less on the affected area.
Other techniques include:. In some cases these methods will not help the head to round out. These devices work by redirecting head growth and are typically highly effective. The skull is formed by multiple different bones. The junctions between the bones are called sutures.
Many types of craniosynostosis require surgery. The surgical procedure is meant to relieve pressure on the brain, correct the craniosynostosis, and allow the brain to grow properly. When needed, a surgical procedure is usually performed during the first year of life. But, the timing of surgery depends on which sutures are closed and whether the baby has one of the genetic syndromes that can cause craniosynostosis.
Babies with very mild craniosynostosis might not need surgery. As the baby gets older and grows hair, the shape of the skull can become less noticeable. Each baby born with craniosynostosis is different, and the condition can range from mild to severe. Most babies with craniosynostosis are otherwise healthy.
A baby with craniosynostosis will need to see a healthcare provider regularly to make sure that the brain and skull are developing properly. Babies with craniosynostosis can often benefit from early intervention external icon services to help with any developmental delays or intellectual problems. Some children with craniosynostosis may have issues with self-esteem if they are concerned with visible differences between themselves and other children. Parent-to-parent support groups also can be useful for new families of babies with birth defects of the head and face, including craniosynostosis.
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