Metopic ridge [ vertical ridge on forehead] Anyone?

[mumoffive]

My 3 year old ds has this. For a long time i never knew what it was. Infact, i cant say i thought much about it until my mum asked me what it was on his forehead. I just looked it up and found its a condition called a metopic ridge. Seemingly its a condition to do with the fusing of the plates of the skull. I find it strange that no doctor has ever raised this with me. Has anyone elses child got this?

 

[mumoffive]

Here is a picture i googled of a child that has it.

 

[roc]

ooh, my LO does, just presumed it was the shape of his head, as his daddy has it too...is it alright? any problems you can get with it?

 

[mumoffive]

Well i dont know much about it to be honest. I was the same as you but all my other children havent ever had it. I think its mostly ok. If you google it, you do come across some cases where surgery is required or the shape of the head takes on a triangular look. My ds is three and reckon if that was going to happen it would have done so by now..but noone has ever said anything to me about it when i was at the doctors so didnt think anything of it!

 

[roc]

no, i didn't even know it was something!
Just googled it, and a little worried, but my Lo is 1 nearly and doc/hv have never said anything? So i guess it's not a problem?

 

[mumoffive]

I dont think its a problem. Im the same..its just not every child has it? I just wondered if someeone elses child had it on here and wondered if they knew more about it. I think its a bit like the condition where the fontanelle closes early. It can change the shape of the skull. Tbh, if thats your child in the picture [ which im presuming it is] His skull looks completely normal. As i said, my ds is three and no issues at all!!

 

[roc]

yeah, thats my lo in the pic..i'm sure it's fine too...i prob would have noticed it more if it was a problem iykwim?
Thanks!

 

[mumoffive]

I think someone somewhere would have said something. I mean ive been to the doctors with him and even up to the hospital with an eye problem and noone has ever commented on it!!! It was my mum that brought it up. I hadnt even noticed it. I too thought it was normal.
Google is evil!!! Its good though to know im not alone. I really hope i havent worried you though. x

 

[mumoffive]

Here is a picture of my ds if you can see it!

 

[roc]

no, no you haven't worried me, google IS evil!
Your sons head looks normal to me, can see it a little, BUT only because i was looking for it It's the same as my sons, you wouldn't notice it really.. Oh and your little boy is stunning by the way!
Really beautiful child..

 

[mumoffive]

Thank you so much and thank you for the reply. It will be interesting to see if anyone else responds to the thread! xx

 

[mumoffive]

Just thought id bump to see if there was anyone else.

 

[whoops]

My LO has this, but not as noticeable to look at - it was only picked up because she's being monitorred for microcephaly (having a small head).

She's been x-rayed but they have come back normal, however the doctor wants to do a CT scan just to be on the safe side.

In general, I don't think it's anything to worry about though, unless the child has a misshapen or small head where it could be a symptom of something more severe.

 

[bump_wanted]

My wee one has this i had it too when i was little i dont now tho lol weird no ones ever said anything to either me or my mum i thought it was just a matter of growing into your head lol xx

 

[mumoffive]

Thats interesting that a few others babies/children have it. As others have said, noone has ever picked up on it. There are times it looks more obvious than others. My ds head isnt mishapen and he looks completely normal except now and again you can see it.

 

[bump_wanted]

^^ thats the same as my LOonly person ever to pick upon it was MIL she constantlythough he'd bumped his head (since birth ) xx

 

[mumoffive]

^^ thats the same as my LOonly person ever to pick upon it was MIL she constantlythough he'd bumped his head (since birth ) xx

Yes, it was my mum who kept going on about it!

 

[Neko]

My daughter has a ridge like that also. I was told it's nothing. Her fontanelle's are still open and her head is 75% percentile. I think most of us have weird heads under our hair.

 

[WW1]

Hi there. I thought I'd chip in here just to give you some info. I'm not an expert on metopic ridges but my daughter had her sagittal bone fused (the one on the top of her skull). This condition is called craniosynostosis and the type of cranio depends on the plates which have fused.

It may well be that your LOs bones haven't fused at all or they might have. I'm no expert but I believe that if the bones are fused, whether treatment is recommended will depend on the amount it has fused.

As I said, this may not be relevant to you at all but I'd recommend www.craniokids.org - the forum is brilliant and there are lots of metopic mummies on there who can give you much better advice than I could (and will be happy to look at your photo and give a considered opinion).

If you are concerned, have a look on there and if you do feel the skull has prematurely fused, speak to your doctor. It is not a well known condition but there is fantastic support out there. If I can be of any help at all, please PM me - I'm WW1 on here and on craniokids so I'm easy to find!

I hope this is helpful and as I said, the metopic ridge is often just normal and not premature fusing. However, if it is fused there are options for you and your LO.

 

[xbabybumpx]

My lo doesint have this. Never heard of it before tbh. Sorry not much help lol x