N
Glam Journal

How do you fix Scaphocephaly?

Author

Chloe Ramirez

Updated on March 18, 2026

How do you fix Scaphocephaly?

Open cranial vault remodeling procedures normalize the head shape by removing large segments of the skull bones that are reshaped by hand and then reattached to the skull using sutures or plates that the body will dissolve in time. Open cranial vault remodeling is usually performed between 6-12 months of age.

Can Scaphocephaly correct itself?

They can check if it could be craniosynostosis or a common problem in babies called flat head syndrome. This is not serious and usually gets better by itself.

Can Scaphocephaly be corrected with helmet?

If your child is diagnosed with deformational plagiocephaly, brachycephaly or scaphocephaly and is less than 12 months old, cranial remolding may be prescribed to correct the shape of the baby’s head. Helmets must be prescribed by a licensed physician.

When do you treat Scaphocephaly?

When this happens, the bones put pressure on the brain and may keep it from growing normally. Scaphocephaly also causes a child’s head to look misshapen. This is why we recommend parents treat their children early – preferably before six months of age.

Does Scaphocephaly require surgery?

Your doctor may recommend a specially molded helmet to help reshape your baby’s head if the cranial sutures are open and the head shape is abnormal. In this situation, the molded helmet can assist your baby’s brain growth and correct the shape of the skull. However, for most babies, surgery is the primary treatment.

How do I know if my baby has Scaphocephaly?

One of the most common signs of scaphocephaly is an elongated head shape, with the sides of the skull appearing narrow and the forehead prominent when looking down.

How do I know if my baby has scaphocephaly?

Why does scaphocephaly occur?

The cause of scaphocephaly is the premature closure of all or most of the sagittal suture. Physiologic sagittal suture closure starts at 22 years of age. Sometimes, a complete fusion may not occur; however, most individuals have it closed between 30 and 50 years old.

Is Flat Head Syndrome parents fault?

Whether a flat head shape has developed before, during, or after birth, some babies will still develop the condition. This is through no fault of the parent and really cannot be prevented.

How do you identify Scaphocephaly?

Signs of Scaphocephaly Head Shape One of the most common signs of scaphocephaly is an elongated head shape, with the sides of the skull appearing narrow and the forehead prominent when looking down.

How is Scaphocephaly diagnosed?

The 3D CT scan is the most relevant and rapid diagnostic test. The authors present the personal experience of 98 scaphocephaly cases diagnosed and surgically treated in the Neurosurgical Department of “Bagdasar-Arseni” Emergency Hospital during a period of 10 years (2000 – 2009).

How do babies get Scaphocephaly?

Scaphocephaly is caused by the early fusion of the sagittal suture which runs from front to back at the top of the skull. Early fusion of a suture in infancy is called synostosis and this type is the most common form of craniosynostosis.

What is the shape of the head In scaphocephaly?

Shape of the head. One of the most common signs of scaphocephaly is an elongated head shape . The sagittal suture is the long suture that runs from the front to the back of the head, and if this suture fuses too quickly, the result is a long, thin head shape.

What causes scaphocephaly in newborns?

The main cause of scaphocephaly is the result of external forces, due to pressure on the sides of the skull in the first months after birth. It is commonly seen in babies who spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

What are the treatment options for scaphocephaly?

Scaphocephaly Treatment: Treatment of Scaphocephaly mainly depends upon early intervention of skull deformities otherwise it becomes difficult to treat. Surgery is mainstay in which cranial remolding orthosis is done successfully. Number of other surgical techniques are also available for the treatment of Scaphocephaly.

What is the difference between scaphocephaly and dolichocephaly?

Scaphocephaly. The condition of synostotic scaphocephaly is related to a head shape that is unable to grow in the width. However, the term can be interchangeable with a deformational condition. The term dolichocephaly is usually associated with a head shape that premature babies develop to describe a long thin head shape.