Can The Ridge On The Top Of My Son’s Head Be Reduced? (Sagittal Ridge Skull Reduction)

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am enquiring about skull reshaping for my son who is very self conscious about his receding hairline which has highlighted a ridge bump on his scalp. We would like to explore possibility of reshaping.

Many thanks in advance.

A:Thank you for your inquiry and sending pictures of your son’s skull issue. He has the classic posterior sagittal crest deformity which typically ruins from the beginning of the sagittal suture at the coronal suture line junction back to the original location of the posterior fontanelle. It its typically raised 5 to 7mms  and is thickest as it approaches the back part off it. In most cases the sagittal crest can be completely taken down provided that the bone is of adequate thickness. Most of the time the ridge exists because the bone is thicker along the crest not thinner but a preoperative CT scan is needed to assure that is so.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana