For a Child with an Encephalocele: Our Institute can Help
Having a child with an encephalocele, while cosmetically unacceptable, doesn't have to be a tragedy. An encephalocele is a birth defect where a portion of the brain pushes between a defect in the skull and bulges through the defect. An encephalocele often occurs in the area of the forehead, between the eyes or in the back of the head. Encephaloceles generally push through suture lines in the skull. Encephaloceles are congenital and the defect is usually present at birth. If your child has an encephalocele, you may notice it at birth or perhaps several weeks later. If an encephalocele occurs without a normal covering of skin, it must be repaired immediately, before infection around the brain occurs.
Our doctors at the International Craniofacial Institute treat encephaloceles and are skilled in craniofacial surgery. Encephalocele surgery may need to be done at birth or up to 1-2 years of age. Because the child is growing, encephalocele repair may need to be done more than once, until the suture lines begin to fuse. Children with an encephalocele may develop a hydrocephalus or extra fluid around the brain.
Treating an Encephalocele
An encephalocele, if improperly treated, can cause meningitis or infection around the brain. If your child has an encephalocele, our doctors will tell you how to care for the encephalocele. If it's covered with skin, the encephalocele may not need immediate surgical repair. If the encephalocele is at risk for hydrocephalus or infection, urgent encephalocele repair is necessary. Our doctors will tell you when the proper time will be for repair of the encephalocele.
Our doctors will consult with you prior to encephalocele surgery. The risks and benefits of encephalocele repair will be explained to you. One of our doctors will examine the encephalocele to see if the encephalocele repair needs to be done immediately or if it can be delayed. When the time comes for encephalocele repair, your child's appearance will be much improved over how he or she looked prior to encephalocele surgery.
Encephaloceles are cosmetically unacceptable but not a tragedy. Our doctors at the International Craniofacial Institute are skilled in encephalocele surgery and will help you understand the mechanism behind how the encephalocele happened and how it will be repaired. You will be please with the results of the encephalocele repair and can enjoy the new, normalized appearance of your young child.