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Definition:
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Craniotabes is a softening of the skull bones.
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Alternative Names:
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Congenital cranial osteoporosis
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Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
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Craniotabes can be a normal finding in infants, especially premature infants. Studies suggest it occurs in up to one third of all newborn infants.
Craniotabes is a harmless finding in the newborn, unless it is associated with other problems, such as rickets and osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones).
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Symptoms:
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- Soft areas of the skull, especially along the suture line
- Soft areas pop in and out
- Bones may feel soft, flexible, and thin along the suture lines
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Signs and tests:
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Typically craniotabes is demonstrated by pressing the bone along the area where the bones of the skull come together. The bone often pops in and out, similar to pressing on a Ping-Pong ball.
No testing is done unless osteogenesis imperfecta or rickets is suspected.
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Treatment:
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Craniotabes that are not associated with other conditions are not treated.
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Expectations (prognosis):
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Complete healing is expected.
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Complications:
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There are usually no complications.
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Calling your health care provider:
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This finding is usually discovered when the baby is examined during a well-baby check. Call your health care provider if you notice that your child has signs of craniotabes (to rule out other problems).
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Prevention:
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Most of the time, craniotabes is not preventable (except when associated with rickets and osteogenesis imperfecta).
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References:
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Greenbaum, L. Rickets and Hypervitaminosis D. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds.Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics.19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 48.
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