What is Craniosynostosis: Muenke Syndrome?
Muenke syndrome is a genetic disease and a type of Craniosynostosis that was discovered in 1996 by a Genetics doctor named Dr. Max Muenke. It is a condition in which the Coronal Sutures of the skull closes prematurely during development affecting the shape and growth of the head. The Coronal Suture fuses the frontal bone to the left and right parietal bones of the skull. For a visual explanation click on the video to the right of the screen.------------------------------------------------------------>
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Who can get Muenke Syndrome?
- Since Muenke Syndrome is a genetic disorder, one of the parents is a carrier. If one parent is a carrier, every one of their children have a 50% change of getting it. Genetic testing is recommend for parents who have children diagnosed with Muenke Syndrome. Females tend to have more aggressive case of signs and symptoms than males. 3/10 people with this disease have bicoronal (both sides of the coronal suture are affected) synostosis and 1/20 has unicoronal (only one side of the coronal suture is affected) synostosis. It is generally recognized when the toddler grows older and his/her head is shaped abnormally enlarged.
What are the physical features of Muenke Syndrome?
Physical features of Muenke Syndrome are:
- Enlarged head size
- Short fingers
- Slightly crooked finger
- Webbed fingers