KEY POINTS The anterior fontanel on rare occasions ossifies and forms a bony plate. An anterior frontal bone can be seen in normal infants as a variant or in association with craniosynostosis. The anterior fontanelle is an integral part of…
KEY POINTS Vertex craniotabes is characterized by diminished mineralization in the superior portions of the parietal bones, caused by prolonged forceful pressure on vertex during birth. The affected region of the calvarium feels soft to palpation and may exhibit a…
KEY POINTS Vertex birth molding is the bony adjustments within the cranial vault and soft tissue swelling due to external fetal head compression during delivery. Factors such as fetal head position and size, gestational age, maternal pelvic shape, and uterine…
KEY POINTS Multiple sutural synostosis can result from a profound degree of prenatal head constraint or genetic mutations in genes associated with a syndromic form of craniosynostosis. Differential diagnosis is important considering the natural history and prognosis of different syndromes.…
KEY POINTS Lambdoidal craniosynostosis is often an isolated anomaly but can be associated with muscular torticollis or an abnormal fetal lie/birth presentation. Differential diagnosis includes nonsynostotic deformational posterior plagiocephaly, synostotic anterior plagiocephaly, and other forms of craniosynostosis. Unilateral lambdoidal craniosynostosis…
KEY POINTS The metopic suture is the first cranial suture to close and normally closes by 8 to 9 months. Mild degrees of metopic ridging occur frequently at birth, but unless there is progressive distortion of the orbits, it usually…
KEY POINTS Coronal craniosynostosis may occur as an isolated finding or as part of several genetic disorders. Coronal craniosynostosis can be unilateral or bilateral and can be caused by early descent of the fetal head into a constraining position, or…
KEY POINTS Sagittal craniosynostosis limits lateral cranial expansion, with progressive frontal and/or occipital prominence and ridging along the mid-posterior portion of the skull. Sagittal synostosis can result from fetal head constraint secondary to factors such as twining, oligohydramnios, or early…
KEY POINTS Differentiating between craniosynostosis and primary cranial deformation is critical to determining the proper mode of treatment. It is important for pediatric and primary care providers to know the normal range and timing of fontanel and cranial suture closure.…
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