Craniosynostosis

Craniosynostosis, the early fusion of skull sutures, is a serious abnormality of infancy and childhood. Because there are many forms of the condition, both isolated and syndromatic, proper diagnosis is essential before treatment could be carried out. Not only has surgical treatment advanced in recent years, but basic knowledge of sutural and molecular biology of craniosynostosis syndromes has recently come to light. Because dramatic changes have occurred in the field, particularly in molecular biology, this new edition has been rewritten and new chapters have been added on the growth of sutures, craniofacial surgery, and epidemiology and clinical correlations. The molecular basis of craniosynostosis, with emphasis on fibroblast growth receptors, and recent research on postnatal growth and the craniofacial complex, will be discussed in detail. Many new syndromes have been delineated the established conditions have been redefined.