Deformed Skull Of Baby Led To Discovery Of A Rare Condition

As an infant, Matthew Boler was cute and chubby, just like other babies. However, the child, born July 16, 2014, had a strange, skinny and oblong head.

During a routine visit to Matthew's doctor at the age of 2 months, the family discovered that the baby might be suffering from a rare serious form of craniosynostosis called sagittal synostosis.

The pediatrician suspected the condition since he was not able to locate the soft spot at the top of Matthew's head. The family was referred to neurosurgeons at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. Doctors there explained that Matthew's skull was not growing properly, resulting in its long appearance. Craniosynostosis occurs when the skull bones fuse prematurely. The condition can hamper the brain's growth.

“There’s no medicine that will unfuse the bone. The treatment is surgery and basically we have to cut out the bad bone," explained Dr. Sandi Lam in a statement. "The skull is very, very thin. We’re able to use different types of instruments and use an endoscope to see everything.

“Because of all of this growth that is happening, the brain really helps make the baby’s new head shape. It rounds everything out from inside out and helps guide how everything heals up.”

During the consultation, Lam explained to the Bolers that Matthew would have to undergo a surgical correction. They were told the baby would have to wear a helmet until he was a year old.

However, Matthew recovered so well after the October surgery that the helmet was taken off in just four months. The baby is still taken to the hospital for regular checkups, but Tech Times reports that he is doing fine.