Craniosynostosis Discharge Instructions
Discharge: Your child can go home when he or she:
- Is eating a regular diet (age appropriate).
- Has completed a 24 hour course of IV antibiotics since surgery.
- Has pain controlled with only Tylenol and/or Motrin.
- Has had no fever in the past 24 hours and is not anemic.
Pain medication:
- You may give Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin/Advil (ibuprofen) on an as-needed basis, or you may give them on a schedule
What to feed:
- Regular age appropriate diet, no restrictions.
- Encourage juices if bowel movements seem difficult for your child.
Activity:
- Quiet play.
- Bumper pads on crib rails for infants and toddlers.
- Place a pillow or wedge under the crib mattress to lift up the head of the bed. Do this for the first 2 weeks after surgery to help any swelling go away faster.
Wound care:
- If your child was discharged from the hospital with a bandage/dressing on his/her head, you may remove it two days after surgery.
- After the dressing has been removed, clean the incision twice daily with 1/2 strength hydrogen peroxide and apply antibiotic ointment (bacitracin or other, can be found at local drug store).
- You may wash the areas around the incisions with a washcloth and gentle shampoo, but avoid washing directly over the incisions until told to do so by your doctor(s).
When should I call the doctor?
- Fever higher than 101.5 tympanic/oral (or 100.5 axillary).
- Incision becomes reddened, swollen, warm to the touch, or more painful.
- Pus or any other drainage from the incision.
- Vomiting.
- Increased irritability (fussiness).
- Increased sleepiness.
- Seizure.
Follow-up with the doctors:
- Follow up with the doctor 1 week after surgery. Call the clinic at 832-325-7234 to set the appointment time.
- Your child will need a molding helmet to continue correction of your child’s head shape. This appointment can be scheduled once you have had your first post op visit or no later than 2 weeks
after the surgery date.