Final answer:
Pronova sutures are prominently used in craniosynostosis surgery. Craniosynostosis involves the premature fusion of cranial sutures, affecting normal skull and brain development. The surgery corrects this by allowing the skull to grow properly.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pronova suture is commonly used in craniosynostosis surgery, a procedure to correct the premature closure of sutures in the skull. Craniosynostosis is a condition where one or more of the fibrous joints between the bones of an infant's skull (known as cranial sutures) close prematurely, before the brain is fully formed. This can lead to various issues, including abnormal skull growth and potential neurological problems. Typically occurring in about 1 in 2000 births, craniosynostosis is more common in males. It can result from issues in the ossification process of the skull bones or from the brain not enlarging properly.
Genetic factors can play a role, though the exact causes are often not clear. During the corrective surgery, a medical team carefully opens the skull along the fused sutures, permitting the bones to grow normally. This is a crucial treatment as it can prevent subsequent brain and skull growth issues. In certain cases, sections of the skull may be removed and substituted with an artificial plate, which also necessitates the use of sutures for closure. Immediate surgical intervention post-birth usually leads to better outcomes, and most children go on to develop normally without neurological deficits after the operation.