Craniosynostosis Surgery at Covenant Children’s Hospital

Covenant Health System is once again proud to offer the combination of neuro and reconstructive surgery together for the treatment of craniosynostosis in pediatric patients. Over the past three years, West Texas pediatrics have been forced to send all patients with craniosynostosis to the metroplex for diagnostic and surgical treatment. Albert Telfeian, MD, PhD and G. Clint Barrett, DDS, MD have teamed up to provide the skills necessary for the surgical treatment of craniosynostosis. Dr. Telfeian performs the diagnostic workup and later consults with Dr. Barrett for co-surgical intervention.

What is craniosynostosis?
The normal skull consists of several plates of bone that are separated by sutures (fibrous joints). The sutures are found between the bony plates in the head. As the infant grows and develops, the sutures close, forming a solid piece of bone.

Craniosynostosis is a condition in which the sutures close too early, causing problems with the normal symmetrical skull appearance and sometimes normal brain growth.

What causes craniosynostosis?
Craniosynostosis can be inherited but most often occurs by chance.

What are the different types of craniosynostosis?
There are numerous types of craniosynostosis. Different names are given to the various types, depending on which suture, or sutures, are involved.

How is craniosynostosis diagnosed?
Craniosynostosis may be present at birth or may be observed later, during a physical examination. The diagnosis is made after a thorough physical examination and after X-rays or a CT scan of the head. Positional plagiocephaly is a much more common diagnosis than craniosynostosis and is simply “molding” of the head that can be corrected usually in the first year of life with simple repositioning or sometimes a helmet. Positional plagiocephaly does not require surgery.

Treatment for craniosynostosis
Surgery is typically the recommended treatment. The goal of treatment is to correct the deformities of the face and skull bones. The optimal time to perform surgery is before the child is 1 year of age since the bones are still very soft and easy to work with. Surgery may be necessary at a much earlier age depending upon the severity of the condition. It is a team of physicians, nurses, and therapists that participate in the treatment of craniosynostosis at Covenant’s Children’s Hospital. The team includes board-certified specialists in pediatric neurosurgery and oral maxillofacial surgery.

Referrals
Providers can contact Neurosurgical Associates at 806.797.2222 to schedule an examination with Dr. Telfeian.