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[Changes of anterior fontanel size in children aged 0 - 2 years]
Insights
The anterior fontanel (AF) in healthy infants reaches its largest size at 1 month and is nearly closed by 24 months. Its size is not influenced by gender or growth parameters, highlighting normal AF development patterns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Human Anatomy
- Developmental Biology
Context:
- The anterior fontanel (AF) is a crucial anatomical landmark in infants.
- Understanding AF development is essential for assessing infant health and development.
- Variations in AF size and closure can indicate underlying medical conditions.
Purpose:
- To track the developmental changes in anterior fontanel size in children under two years old.
- To establish normative data for anterior fontanel dimensions and closure timelines.
- To investigate potential correlations between AF size and factors like gender, weight, length, and head circumference.
Summary:
- The study measured the anterior fontanel (AF) size in healthy infants up to 2 years old.
- The AF reached its maximum size of 2.2 cm at 1 month, gradually decreasing to 0.5 cm by 24 months, with 93% closure by this age.
- No significant differences in AF size were observed based on gender or correlation with weight, length, or head circumference.
Impact:
- Provides normative data for pediatricians to assess normal anterior fontanel development.
- Contributes to the early identification of potential developmental abnormalities in infants.
- Suggests using oblique diameters for fontanel measurements in clinical practice.
- Highlights the need for further research on AF closure in healthy children.
Objective:
To study the development of anterior fontanel(AF) in children less than 2 years of age.
Method:
The size of AF of the children under 2 years of age was measured. The criteria were: (1) All the children were singletons and term (37 weeks ≤ gestational age ≤ 40 weeks) at birth, birth weight > 2500 g. (3) Those with intracranial diseases (included trauma and asphyxia) and scalp hematoma were ruled out. (3) Healthy children (without intracranial disease, growth retardation, congenital syndrome or bone metabolic diseases such as rickets).
Result:
(1) The mean value of AF in neonates was 1.5 (0.3 - 2.5) cm, and the average of the AF at 1 month after birth was 2.2 cm, which was the largest one. The size of AF was 1.0 (0.3 - 2.0) cm at age 12 months, and 0.5 (0.3 - 0.7) cm at 24 months. (2) The percentage for the closure of the AF was 3% at 6 months, 26.5% at 12 months, and 93.0% at 24 months. (3) There were no gender differences in the size of the AF (P > 0.05). And the size of AF was not correlated with the development levels of weight, length, and head circumference (P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
(1) The size of AF at 1 month was maximum (2.2 cm), and then decreased by years. The AF was almost closed (93%) at 24 months. (2) There were no gender differences in anterior fontanel (P > 0.05). The size of AF was not correlated with the growth of weight, length, and head circumferences (P > 0.05). (3) The fontanel dimensions should be represented by oblique diameters of the fontanel in clinical pediatrics. (4) The AF closure time needs to be further evaluated in normal children.
