Craniosynostosis: Home Treatment

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Home Treatment

The only treatment for craniosynostosis is surgery. There are things you can do at home before your child's surgery to help make your child more comfortable and to ensure proper healing after surgery.

Ask your doctor to show you before-and-after pictures of other children who have had the same type of surgery. This may help you prepare for your child's appearance right after he or she has surgery. Photos can also encourage you by showing the positive results that other children have experienced from surgery.

Talk with your baby's doctor about the details of surgery for craniosynostosis and what you can expect afterwards.

At the hospital:

• Stay with your baby as much as possible before surgery.
• Comfort your child, and provide gentle reassurance.
• Have some of your child's familiar or treasured objects, such as blankets or stuffed animals, with you at the hospital.
• Talk to your child and be involved in his or her care. This will help your child get well, and it will make you feel better. It will also help you be more comfortable caring for your child when he or she returns home.
• Talk to the health professionals treating your baby about:
  • Anything you do not understand.
  • How to provide comfort for your child when you are not present.

After surgery, continue to comfort and reassure your child during recovery in the hospital. Be prepared for how your child will appear right after surgery. There may significant swelling, some bruising, and a large bandage covering his or her skull. Your baby may need to wear a helmet. If this is the case, you will receive instructions on how to put the helmet on and take it off.

When your baby returns home:

• Take care of your baby's incision. Clean it regularly and check for signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, pain, or swelling. This incision will leave a scar, which most likely will be completely covered when your baby's hair grows over it.
• Check for signs of complications from surgery, such as bleeding. Also look for signs of pressure on the baby's brain, such as vomiting or increased swelling around the eyes.
• Follow instructions from your doctor regarding how to position your baby after surgery and helmet care (if your baby needs to wear one).
• Call your baby's doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your baby's condition.

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Last updated:	August 07, 2007
Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH
Reviewed By:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine, Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Denele Ivins