Apert syndrome is primarily characterized by specific malformations of the skull, midface, hands, and feet. The cranial malformations are the most apparent effects of acrocephalosyndactyly. Cranial synostosis occurs, as explained above, with Brachiocephaly being the common pattern of growth. Due to the premature closing of sutures of the skull, increased cranial pressure develops which sometimes leads to mental deficiency. Many of the characteristic facial features of Apert syndrome result from the premature fusion of the skull bones. The head is unable to grow normally, which leads to a sunken appearance in the middle of the face, bulging and wide-set eyes, a beaked nose, and an underdeveloped upper jaw leading to crowded teeth and other dental problems. Shallow eye sockets can cause vision problems. Other features of acrocephalosyndactyly may be shallow bony orbits and broadly spaced eyes.
Genetic counseling may be of value to prospective parents. There's no cure for Apert syndrome, but much can be done to prevent or treat complications and help the child grow as normally as possible. Surgery is needed to prevent the closing of sutures in the skull from damaging brain development. The child may need care from many different specialists over the years, including craniofacial surgeons, speech therapists and ophthalmologists. Combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgery can help to relieve some of the facial deformities, such as the flat or concave face. One important aim of the treatment is to prevent a build-up of pressure on the brain. Additionally, aggressive surgery is needed to separate as many fingers and toes as possible in life. The fingers may be separated to improve hand movement and the toes separated if they interfere with walking.
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