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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does An Early Closing Fontanelle Indicate?

What does an early closing fontanelle indicate? I saw a 5 month old baby and his fontanelle felt closed. He seemed to be meeting his milestones. Are there any milestones in particular I need to check. Also another baby at 4 months her fontanelle had nearly closed yet at 12 months she was progressing fine. In some cases if the fontanelle closes early does it mean that the brain can still progress as normal. What is the normal time for it to close. I am a new nurse so it may be that I was not palpating correctly.
Sat, 11 Aug 2012
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for query,
Fontanelles are soft spots on a baby's head which, during birth, enable the bony plates of the skull to flex, allowing the child's head to pass through the birth canal.
The ossification of the bones of the skull causes the fontanelles to close over by 18 to 24 months.
Early closing is not harmful but you may check it for high intracranial pressure.The disease causing high pressure may be hydrocephele should be ruled out.
This condition mimics that the frontanelles is closed.
Thanks.
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What Does An Early Closing Fontanelle Indicate?

Hi, Thanks for query, Fontanelles are soft spots on a baby s head which, during birth, enable the bony plates of the skull to flex, allowing the child s head to pass through the birth canal. The ossification of the bones of the skull causes the fontanelles to close over by 18 to 24 months. Early closing is not harmful but you may check it for high intracranial pressure.The disease causing high pressure may be hydrocephele should be ruled out. This condition mimics that the frontanelles is closed. Thanks.