When a child is diagnosed with craniosynostosis, a condition in which the skull bones fuse together too early, only the most specialized care will do. Home to leading experts in the field, Children's Hospital of New York is a top destination for treating craniosynostosis in infants, children, and teens. Our bi-campus program at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital serves pediatric patients with craniosynostosis from across the country, with individualized care, cutting edge techniques, and unparalleled outcomes. Whether your child has single-suture synostosis or the most complex syndromic diagnosis, you can trust they’ll receive advanced care tailored to their unique needs and developmental stage.
Unmatched care for children with craniosynostosis
Craniosynostosis treatments we offer
Our experts are dedicated to advancing care, driving research, and improving outcomes for patients with craniosynostosis. Whenever possible, we opt for minimally invasive techniques that help your child recover faster and spend less time in the hospital. We offer a range of cutting-edge services, including:
- Virtual surgical planning, an innovative approach that can result in shorter, more efficient, and safer craniosynostosis surgery
- Minimally invasive surgical options for infants
- Ultrasonic bone aspiration, which can help reduce the need for transfusions and longer hospital stays
- Le Fort lll advancement, a procedure to help reposition the midface in children with complex syndromic craniosynostosis
- Cranial vault remodeling to reshape the cranial bones and improve brain growth.
- Vertex craniectomy. This procedure provides an intermediate approach to the correction of sagittal synostosis between endoscopic surgery and complete vault remodeling when indicated.
A multidisciplinary approach to craniosynostosis treatment
Craniofacial disorders can impact a child’s development and daily function, with the potential to affect their vision, speech, breathing, and ability to eat. That’s why, at Children’s Hospital of New York, we bring together experts across specialties to give your child the most well-rounded care available. Our craniosynostosis care team includes pediatric neurosurgeons, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, otolaryngologists, geneticists, pulmonologists, orthodontists, dentists, specialty-trained nurses, oral surgeons, speech language and occupational therapists, social workers, nutritionists, and more. In addition to specialized treatment, families can also access key resources such as feeding support, family counseling, and help with transitional care to adult services.
FAQ about craniosynostosis
Craniosynostosis is a congenital condition (present at birth) that causes bones in an infant’s skull to fuse before the brain is done growing. This condition therefore impacts not only the shape of a child’s head but also their brain growth, eye position, and functional development.
Craniosynostosis is primarily diagnosed with a physical exam of a baby’s head. In some cases, imaging studies of the skull or genetic testing may be used.
About 1 in 2,500 babies in the United States are born with craniosynostosis, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Types of craniosynostosis are defined by which suture (growth plates in the skull) fuses too early.
Sagittal Craniosynostosis – The most common type of craniosynostosis, which can cause the skull to grow into a long, narrow shape.
Coronal Craniosynostosis - If one coronal suture closes early, one side of the forehead may look flat and the other fuller. Both sides closing early can make the head look short, wide, and pushed forward.
Metopic Craniosynostosis - Early closing of the metopic suture can make the forehead look pointed or triangular, with the back of the head appearing wider.
Lambdoid Craniosynostosis - A rare type of craniosynostosis in which the back of the head may look flat on one side, and the ears or head shape may appear uneven.
The cause of craniosynostosis in many babies is unknown. However, some cases can be related to genetic syndromes that affect skull development, such as Apert syndrome and Crouzon syndrome.
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Children's Hospital of New York
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