Normally diagnosis of craniosynostosis can be carried out by a pediatrician, they would perform a visual assessment and feel the sutures around the baby's skull to check for ridges. Usually this kind of test is enough to tell if the baby does have the defect, however the pediatrician may request additional tests to confirm this in more detail.
Imaging tests (such as CT scans and X-rays) are an effective way of seeing which sutures have fused this would be highly beneficial if surgery were to be performed.
As craniosynostosis can be caused by hereditary genetic mutations, a sample of the baby's hair, blood or saliva might be taken and the genes tested.
How is Craniosynostosis Treated?
The primary treatment method of craniosynostosis is surgery, which is best done within the first year of the child's life. The main goal of the surgery is to let the cranial vault develop normally. If surgery is not performed the condition can get worse and the skull deformity increase.
