The role of the nurse in the diagnosis and care of an infant with craniosynostosis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12923/pielxxiw-2025-0011Keywords:
craniosynostosis, nursing care, quality of life, neurocognitive developmentAbstract
THE ROLE OF THE NURSE IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND CARE OF AN INFANT WITH CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS
Introduction. Nurses play a critical role in the diagnosis of craniosynostosis by performing physical examinations of the newborn’s head, differentiating deformities, and referring the patient for imaging studies. Postoperatively, nurses monitor pain management, assess the child’s neurological development, and facilitate the rehabilitation process.
Aim. The study aimed to analyze the nurse’s role in diagnosing and caring for infants with craniosynostosis, emphasizing early detection, differentiation from positional plagiocephaly, and family support during treatment and rehabilitation.
Method. This review adhered to the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley, subsequently revised and expanded by Levac, Colquhoun, and O’Brien. A scoping review methodology was employed, guided by the stages outlined in the PRISMA-ScR Checklist. Literature was sourced from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, as well as Polish scientific journals. Ultimately, 32 studies were selected for in-depth analysis. The role of nurses was evaluated within a chronological framework encompassing the stages of diagnosis, treatment, postoperative care, and rehabilitation.
Summary. The holistic nursing care and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential for the effective diagnosis and treatment of children with craniosynostosis. Nurses, with their professional competencies, significantly contribute to improving treatment outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for patients and their families.
References
1. Fakuda K, Straus SE, Hickie IB, et al. Syndrome: a comprehensive approach to its definition and management. Ann. Intern. Med. 1994; 121: 953-959.
2. Kajdic N, Spazzapan P, Velnar T. Craniosynostosis - Recognition, clinical characteristics, and treatment. Bosn. J. Basic Med. Sci. 2018; 18(2): 110-116. https://doi.org/10.17305/bjbms.2017.2083
3. Bautista G. Craniosynostosis: Neonatal Perspectives. Neoreviews. 2021; 22(4): e250-e257. https://doi.org/10.1542/neo.22-4-e250
4. Connolly JP, Gruss J, Seto ML, et al. Progressive postnatal craniosynostosis and increased intracranial pressure. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 2004; 113(5): 1313-1323. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.prs.0000111593.96440.30
5. Shruthi NM, Gulati S. Craniosynostosis: A Pediatric Neurologist’s Perspective. J. Pediatr. Neurosci. 2022; 17(Suppl 1): S54-S60. https://doi.org/10.4103/jpn.JPN_25_22
6. Marbate T, Kedia S, Gupta DK. Evaluation and Management of Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis. J. Pediatr. Neurosci. 2022; 17(Suppl 1): S77-S91. https://doi.org/10.4103/jpn.JPN_17_22
7. Arksey H, O’Malley L. Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. Int. J. Soc. Res. Methodol. 2005; 8(1): 19-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616
8. Levac D, Colquhoun H, O’Brien KK. Scoping studies: advancing the methodology. Implement. Sci. 2010; 5: 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-5-69
9. Tricco AC, Lillie E, Zarin W, et al. PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation. Ann. Intern. Med. 2018; 169(7): 467-473. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-0850
10. Mak S, Thomas A. Steps for Conducting a Scoping Review. J. Grad. Med. Educ. 2022; 14(5): 565-567. https://doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-22-00621.1
11. Ryan E. Boolean Operators Quick Guide, Examples & Tips. Scribbr. (2023, May 31). Retrieved January 11, 2025, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/boolean-operators/
12. Zavala CA, Zima LA, Greives MR, et al. Can Craniosynostosis be Diagnosed on Physical Examination? A Retrospective Review. J. Craniofac. Surg. 2023; 34(7): 2046-2050. https://doi.org/10.1097/SCS.0000000000009686
13. Duan M, Skoch J, Pan BS, et al. Neuro-Ophthalmological Manifestations of Craniosynostosis: Current Perspectives. Eye Brain. 2021; 13: 29-40. https://doi.org/10.2147/EB.S234075
14. Stanton E, Urata M, Chen JF, et al. The clinical manifestations, molecular mechanisms and treatment of craniosynostosis. Dis. Model Mech. 2022; 15(4): dmm049390. https://doi.org/10.1242/dmm.049390
15. Ahluwalia R, Foster J, Sherburn MM, et al. Deformational brachycephaly: the clinical utility of the cranial index. J. Neurosurg. Pediatr. 2020; 26(2): 122-126. https://doi.org/10.3171/2020.2.PEDS19767
16. Fu Z, Chen X, Xu C, et al. Association of gut microbiota composition and craniosynostosis. Transl. Pediatr. 2023; 12(8): 1464-1475. https://doi.org/10.21037/tp-23-76
17. Blanco-Diaz M, Marcos-Alvarez M, Escobio-Prieto I, et al. Effectiveness of Conservative Treatments in Positional Plagiocephaly in Infants: A Systematic Review. Children (Basel). 2023; 10(7): 1184. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10071184
18. Forestier-Zhang L, Arundel P, Gilbey Cross R, et al. G233(P) Craniosynostosis can occur in children with nutritional ricket. Arch. Dis. Child. 2018; 103: A96
19. Pastor-Pons I, Hidalgo-García C, et al. Effectiveness of pediatric integrative manual therapy in cervical movement limitation in infants with positional plagiocephaly: a randomized controlled trial. Ital. J. Pediatr. 2021; 47(1): 41. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-021-00995-9
20. DeFreitas CA, Carr SR, Merck DL, et al. Prenatal diagnosis of craniosynostosis using ultrasound. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 2022; 150(5): 1084-1089. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000009608
21. Russo C, Aliberti F, Ferrara UP, et al. Neuroimaging in nonsyndromic craniosynostosis: key concepts to unlock innovation. Diagnostics (Basel). 2024; 14(17): 1842. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14171842
22. Proisy M, Riffaud L, Chouklati K, et al. Ultrasonography for the diagnosis of craniosynostosis. Eur. J. Radiol. 2017; 90: 250-255
23. Simanovsky N, Jiller N, Koplewitz B, et al. Effectiveness of ultrasonographic evaluation of the cranial sutures in children with suspected craniosynostosis. Eur. Radiol. 2009; 19: 687-692. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-008-1193-5
24. Krimmel M, Will B, Wolff M, et al. Value of high-resolution ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of scaphocephaly and occipital plagiocephaly. Int. J. Oral. Maxillofac. Surg. 2012; 41(7): 797-800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijom.2012.02.022
25. Pogliani L, Zuccotti GV, Furlanetto M, et al. Cranial ultrasound is a reliable first step imaging in children with suspected craniosynostosis. Childs Nerv. Syst. 2017; 33: 1545-1552. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-017-3449-3
26. Mortada H, AlKhashan R, Alhindi N, et al. The management of perioperative pain in craniosynostosis repair: a systematic literature review of the current practices and guidelines for the future. Maxillofac. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 2022; 44(1): 33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40902-022-00363-5
27. Kljajić M, Maltese G, Tarnow P, et al. Health-related quality of life of children treated for non-syndromic craniosynostosis. J. Plast. Surg. Hand. Surg. 2023; 57(1-6): 408-414. https://doi.org/10.1080/2000656X.2022.2147532
28. Kurniawan MSIC, van de Beeten SDC, Raat H, et al. Health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with sagittal synostosis. J. Craniofac. Surg. 2023; 34(8): 2284-287. https://doi.org/10.1097/SCS.0000000000009733
29. Buchanan EP, Xue Y, Xue AS, et al. Multidisciplinary care of craniosynostosis. J. Multidiscip. Healthc. 2017; 10: 263-270. https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S100248
30. Hersh DS, Lambert WA, Bookland MJ, et al. Minimally invasive strip craniectomy for metopic craniosynostosis using a lighted retractor. Neurosurg. Focus Video. 2021; 4(2): V5. https://doi.org/10.3171/2021.1.FOCVID20123
31. Suleman F, Sohail A, Javed G, et al. The role of helmet therapy in craniosynostosis: a systematic review. Asian. J. Neurosurg. 2024; 19(4): 610-617. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0044-1791228
32. Cardim VLN, Peres GMC, Silva ADS. Combined dynamic osteotomies for craniosynostosis. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. Glob. Open. 2023; 11(8): e5208. https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000005208
33. Park KM, Tripathi NV, Mufarrej FA. Quality of life in patients with craniosynostosis and deformational plagiocephaly: A Systematic Review. Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. 2021; 149: 110873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2021.110873
34. Ryall JJ, Xue Y, Turner KD, et al. Assessing the quality of life in infants with deformational plagiocephaly. J. Craniomaxillofac. Surg. 2021; 49(1): 29-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcms.2020.11.005
35. Klieverik VM, Singhal A, Woerdeman PA. Cosmetic satisfaction and patient-reported outcomes following surgical treatment of single-suture craniosynostosis: a systematic review. Childs Nerv. Syst. 2023; 39(12): 3571-3581. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-023-06063-3
36. Yu M, Ma L, Yuan Y, et al. Cranial suture regeneration mitigates skull and neurocognitive defects in craniosynostosis. Cell. 2021; 184(1): 243-256.e18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.037
37. Almeida MN, Alper DP, Parikh N, et al. Comparison of emotional and behavioral regulation between metopic and sagittal synostosis. Childs Nerv. Syst. 2024; 40(9): 2789-2799. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-024-06387-8
38. Osborn AJ, Lange O, Roberts RM. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in individuals with non-syndromic craniosynostosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dev. Neuropsychol. 2024; 49(5): 191-206. https://doi.org/10.1080/87565641.2024.2357801
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
