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Anterior fontanel: size and closure in term and preterm infants
Insights
The anterior fontanel (soft spot on a baby's head) shows significant variability in size and closure time. This study found no major differences between full-term and premature infants or sexes, with limited correlation to growth metrics.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Human Growth and Development
Background:
- The anterior fontanel is a key indicator of infant development.
- Understanding its size and closure patterns is crucial for assessing growth and development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the size and closure timing of the anterior fontanel in infants up to 24 months.
- To explore relationships between fontanel characteristics and growth parameters, bone age, and gestational age.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 111 term and 128 preterm infants.
- Measurements of anterior fontanel size and age at closure were recorded.
- Correlations with weight, length, head circumference, bone age, and gestational age were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Significant variability observed in both anterior fontanel size and age at closure.
- No significant differences in fontanel size or closure age were found between term and preterm infants, or between sexes.
- Fontanel size showed a weak negative correlation with weight and length beyond term age, with few statistically significant findings.
- No significant relationships were identified between anterior fontanel size and head circumference or bone age.
- Age at fontanel closure was not significantly related to growth parameters or bone age.
Conclusions:
- The anterior fontanel exhibits considerable variability in size and closure timing.
- These variations do not appear to be significantly influenced by gestational age or sex.
- Anterior fontanel characteristics have limited predictive value for standard growth parameters and bone age in infants.
Abstract:
Size and closure of the anterior fontanel from birth to 24 months of age and their relationships to growth parameters, bone age, and gestational age are reported in 111 term and 128 preterm infants. Great variability of both fontanel size and age when fontanel closed was observed. There were no significant differences in size and age at closure of the anterior fontanel between term and preterm infants or between the sexes. At ages beyond term, fontanel size was negatively correlated with weight and length; however, only a few correlations reached statistical significance. No significant relationships were noted between anterior fontanel size and head circumference or bone age. Age at closure of the anterior fontanel was also not significantly related to any of the growth parameters or bone age.