Sagittal synostosis diagnosis
Diagnosis is made by a combination of clinical and radiological assessment, with subsequent referral for multidisciplinary management in a formal craniofacial team. At the Cleft and Craniofacial SA (C&CSA), this initial assessment includes review by a Craniofacial surgeon, Neurosurgeon, Ophthalmologist as well as detailed 3D CT scan examination.
Sagittal synostosis treatment
Where sagittal craniosynostsosis is confirmed and deemed to be sufficiently severe as to require treatment, our surgical approach is a total cranial vault remodelling (CVR) usually performed between 6-12 months of age. This operation deals with all elements of the cranial vault deformity – widening of the head, and reducing the frontal bossing and occipital bullet. Further details of the surgery and aftercare are available on the Cleft and Craniofacial SA (C&CSA) website.
Where the diagnosis is made early – within the first three months, our advice is to position the baby with extra pressure on the back of the head, which helps to mold and reduce the prominence of the "bullet" in advance of the planned surgery.
After CVR surgery in infancy, long term follow up is routine, to assess brain development, and to monitor recurrent deformity and raised intracranial pressure, even though these are uncommon
