Long-term results in syndromic craniosynostosis

Skull sutures are fibrous joints between the different bones of the skull. In adult life they have no function but in the foetus they allow the bones to move during the birth process and are involved in skull growth till the age of six years. After the age of six years skull growth takes place by apposition of bone at the outer site of the skull and resorption of bone on the inner site of the skull. Craniosynostosis is a condition in which one or more sutures of the skull prematurely fuse. The term craniosynostosis was first used by Otto in 1830.1 The word “Cranio” refers to cranium, “Syn” to together and “ostosis” to the genesis of bone. But the first description of craniosynostosis dates back to Hippocrates and Galen2 and it is a disorder that occurs in the human species since ancient times.3 When craniosynostosis is caused by a mutation or deletion we speak of syndromic craniosynostosis. This is the case in at least 20% of the patients with craniosynostosis.4 The most prevalent syndromes are Apert, Crouzon, Muenke and Saethre-Chotzen.