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At UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, we believe parents and guardians can contribute to the success of this surgery and invite you to participate. Please read the following information to learn about the surgery and how you can help.
Sagittal craniosynostosis is the premature fusion or closure of the sagittal suture.
If the sagittal suture fuses in utero or early infancy, the head shape is long and narrow and there is a surgery called “spring assisted cranioplasty" that can be performed.
This is a cranial spring. This allows reshaping and expansion of skull to improve head shape and prevent pressure from developing.
This surgery is typically performed around 4 months of age.
It involves an incision where a strip of bone is removed where the suture has closed and hardware or springs go in place to help expand skull bones and create space.
The springs open out to widen this gap and new bone forms over the gap over the following months. Skin is closed with dissolvable sutures (do not need sutures removed).
Four months after the springs go in, the patient undergoes a 20-minute procedure to have them removed.
The day before surgery (Friday if surgery is Monday) you will receive a call from Same Day Surgery letting you know what time the case starts and what time you need to be at the hospital as well as when you need to start nothing by mouth for anesthesia.
If your child has any special needs or health issues you feel the doctor needs to know about, or if you have any questions, please call 412-692-8650 before the surgery and ask to speak with the nurse practitioner or cleft clinic coordinator. It is important to notify us in advance about any special needs your child might have.
Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh One Children’s Hospital Way 4401 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224
In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region.
With myCHP, you can request appointments, review test results, and more.
For questions about a hospital bill call:
To pay your bill online, please visit UPMC's online bill payment system.
Interested in giving to Children's Hospital? Support the hospital by making a donation online, joining our Heroes in Healing monthly donor program, or visiting our site to learn about the other ways you can give back.