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Craniotabes
Congenital cranial osteoporosis
Craniotabes is a softening of the skull bones.
Causes
Craniotabes can be a normal finding in infants, especially premature infants. It may occur in up to one third of all newborn infants.
Craniotabes is harmless in the newborn, unless it is associated with other problems. These can include rickets and osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones).
Rickets
Rickets is a disorder caused by a lack of vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate. It leads to softening and weakening of the bones.
Osteogenesis imperfecta
Osteogenesis imperfecta is a condition causing extremely fragile bones.
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
- 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
Exams and Tests
The health care provider will press 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 if the problem is present.
No testing is done unless osteogenesis imperfecta or rickets is suspected.
Treatment
Craniotabes that are not associated with other conditions are not treated.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Complete healing is expected.
Possible Complications
There are no complications in most cases.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
This problem is most often found 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).
Well-baby check
Childhood is a time of rapid growth and change. Children have more well-child visits when they are younger. This is because development is faster d...
Prevention
Most of the time, craniotabes is not preventable. Exceptions are when the condition associated with rickets and osteogenesis imperfecta.
References
Greenbaum, L. Rickets and Hypervitaminosis D. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 19th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 48.
Review Date: 2/5/2015
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
