What is the condition where children are born without a fully formed skull, requiring skull replacement?

From the Guidelines

Anencephaly is the condition where children are born without a fully formed skull, requiring skull replacement. This congenital defect occurs when there is a partial or complete absence of the skull bones, usually with a remnant of brain, and is almost always fatal before or shortly after birth 1. The condition is a type of neural tube defect (NTD), which affects the developing nervous system and includes other defects such as spina bifida and encephalocele. Some key points about anencephaly include:

• It is a serious birth defect that occurs in about 1 in 1000 live births in the United States 1
• The exact cause of anencephaly is not known, but it is thought to be related to a combination of genetic and environmental factors
• Folic acid supplementation before conception and during early pregnancy has been shown to reduce the risk of NTDs, including anencephaly 1
• Anencephaly is often diagnosed prenatally through ultrasound or other imaging tests, and treatment is usually focused on supporting the family and preparing for the birth of the child
• In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to repair associated defects or to provide comfort care for the child. However, the prognosis for children with anencephaly is generally poor, and the condition is often fatal shortly after birth. Early diagnosis and supportive care are essential for optimizing outcomes and providing the best possible quality of life for affected children and their families. It is essential to note that anencephaly is distinct from other conditions, such as craniosynostosis, which is a congenital defect that occurs when one or more of the fibrous joints between the bones of a baby's skull (cranial sutures) close prematurely before the brain is fully formed. While both conditions can affect the development of the skull and brain, they have different causes, symptoms, and treatment options. In the context of anencephaly, skull replacement is not a viable treatment option, and the focus is on providing supportive care and optimizing quality of life for the affected child and their family 1.

From the Research

Condition Description

• The condition where children are born without a fully formed skull is known as Craniopagus or more specifically, a condition that might be related is Craniopagus parasiticus, however, none of the provided studies directly discuss this condition.
• Another condition that might be related is Craniosynostosis, but it is not directly mentioned in the provided studies.

Relevant Studies

• Unfortunately, none of the provided studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 directly discuss the condition of children being born without a fully formed skull or having to have parts of the skull replaced.
• The studies primarily focus on rehabilitation therapies such as occupational, physical, and speech therapy for various conditions like traumatic brain injury, disorders of consciousness, cerebral palsy, and stroke rehabilitation.

Skull Replacement and Related Conditions

• There is no direct information available in the provided studies regarding the condition of children being born without a fully formed skull or requiring skull replacement.
• It is possible that the condition being referred to is a rare congenital disorder, but without more specific information, it is difficult to determine the exact condition being described.