Metopic Synostosis

What is Metopic Synostosis

An infant’s skull is not a solid structure early on. It is made up of a number of bony plates, joined together by fibers called sutures. The metopic suture is located at the front of the head where it separates the frontal bones of the skull.

This suture is here to allow the shape of the skull to grow and develop as the brain grows and develops. It is also the only suture that naturally closes sometime before the child turns two years old.

Metopic synostosis occurs when the metopic suture begins fusing too early. This condition can restrict the growth across the forehead which, in turn, can cause the skull to become a definite triangular shape and the eyes to seem too close together.

How We Treat Metopic Synostosis

At the Cleft & Craniofacial Institute of Utah, we can treat metopic synostosis through a surgical therapy that will correct the triangular shape of the forehead and create the necessary space in the anterior fossa, so the skull can develop regularly.

As part of this procedure, we will place bone grafts at the midline to widen the distance between the upper part of the eye orbits, which can address potential problems with hypotelorism (the eyes being too close together.

Similar Conditions

There is another condition known as “isolated metopic ridge,” which is not the same as true metopic synostosis. It’s important to distinguish between the two, though, because isolated metopic ridge does not require surgery.

Additional Information

Contact the Cleft & Craniofacial Institute of Utah today and we’ll be happy to consult with you and answer any questions you may have.