Scaphocephaly is the term used to describe the shape that results from craniosynostosis of the sagittal suture. This suture runs from front to back starting at the fontanel (soft spot) at the top of the head, and extending backwards along the middle of the skull. Sometimes the soft spot will be closed when this suture is fused. A ridge can be seen, or felt, running along the top of the head in between the right and left halves of the skull. When viewed from above, the skull will be wider near the forehead and gets narrower towards the back of the skull (which is the opposite of what is normal: the back of the skull should be wider than the front).  When looking straight on at the child’s face, the forehead may seem bigger, and the sides of the skull look narrow. Perhaps the most characteristic finding of sagittal synostosis is that in looking at your child from the side, the back of the skull is lower than the front, which is the opposite of normal. Most children with scaphocephaly will have very high head circumferences. This is because in response to the reduced width and height of the back of the skull, the length grows abnormally longer (from the remaining open sutures compensating for the diminished growth by the sagittal suture).

The incidence of scaphocephaly is one in 2,000 births. It is the most common form of craniosynostosis. Almost all children affected with scaphocephaly require surgical treatment. The treatment for this condition is discussed in the Treatment section.