Pediatric Craniosynostosis: Abnormal Head Shape in Infants

About 1 in 2,000 babies is affected by craniosynostosis, in which the sutures of the skull bones close too early. This leads to an abnormally shaped head not related to external factors.

Craniosynostosis can be hereditary and accompany other congenital defects or occur randomly in otherwise healthy children with normal intelligence.

Listen as Kamlesh Patel, MD, Washington University pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgeon at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, explains how this condition is treated and how the patient might be affected in the long term.