oxycephaly

congenital disorder

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Oxycephaly is a type of craniosynostosis, a congenital disorder where the skull bones fuse prematurely. This fusion restricts the skull's ability to grow, leading to deformities.1

Specifically, oxycephaly occurs when the coronal suture, which runs side-to-side near the front of the skull, fuses early. This results in a skull that is short from front to back but wide and high. The term "oxycephalic" describes conditions related to or exhibiting oxycephaly. This condition can sometimes be associated with other abnormalities and may require surgical intervention in early childhood to allow for proper brain growth and prevent complications like mental retardation or blindness.12

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craniosynostosis
…but wide and high (oxycephaly). Apert syndrome (acrocephalosyndactyly) is a rare inherited disorder in which premature closure of the coronal suture is associated with fused digits, defects of the brain and face, and sometimes other abnormalities. With premature closure of both sagittal and coronal sutures, growth occurs only vertically,…
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…but wide and high (oxycephaly). Apert syndrome (acrocephalosyndactyly) is a rare inherited disorder in which premature closure of the coronal suture is associated with fused digits, defects of the brain and face, and sometimes other abnormalities. With premature closure of both sagittal and coronal sutures, growth occurs only vertically,…
Read More