Otherwise, it would be very difficult for a child's head to pass through the birth canal. Craniosynostosis is a condition that occurs when the bone junctions, or sutures, fuse prematurely. When some of the skull bones fuse in the womb, it can affect the baby's head shape. Sometimes the growth of the brain can also be influenced, and will benefit from surgical release of the constricted bones.
Some examples follow.
Click here to read about one family's experience. This condition presents with a lop-sided or twisted appearance to the head, with one side of the forehead or posterior head pushing out farther than the other. In this case, the head has a long, narrow shape. It may require surgical correction depending upon its severity. This condition is characterized by a head that is wide, with a shortened anterior posterior length.