Cranial Vault Remodeling

When your child suffers from craniosynostosis, whether it's associated with a genetic syndrome or an isolated condition, treatment typically requires a surgical procedure. Here at Texas Children’s Hospital, we have a multidisciplinary team of specialists to help you understand your child’s condition and determine the optimal course of treatment. The cranial vault is the space within your skull that contains your brain. Cranial vault remodeling is exactly what the name implies. The craniofacial surgeon will remodel or reshape the bones of the skull expanding and enlarging the space within the vault to allow room for your child’s brain to grow while attempting to restore a more natural appearing shape of the skull. The craniofacial surgeon and the neurosurgeon work together to perform the surgery as safely as possible. The goals of surgery for craniosynostosis are to allow for normal expansion of the brain, relieve the pressure caused by the early suture closure, and restore or improve your child’s appearance and head shape. The type of craniosynostosis and the sutures prematurely closed will determine what procedure will be required. The Division of Plastic Surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital is experienced in caring for and treating all types of craniosynostosis and providing the appropriate surgical management for each child. There are several types of procedures that address the front, top, sides and back of the skull. Your surgeon may refer to these procedures as anterior vault remodeling, cranial vault expansion and posterior vault expansion techniques. After your child is evaluated in the Craniofacial Clinic, we can help determine what procedure or combination of procedures would be most appropriate for your child. Every child is unique and the treatment should be performed as such. If you have any questions or would like more information on the treatment of craniosynostosis, please feel free to comment below.