• Meltem Direk, Khatuna Makharoblıdze, Burçin Gönüllü Polat, Asena Ayça Özdemir, and Çetin Okuyaz.
• Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
• Turk J Med Sci. 2022 Aug 1; 52 (4): 934941934-941.

BackgroundWe aimed to assess the neurodevelopmental status of healthy children with premature anterior fontanel closure.MethodsThis retrospective observational study was conducted on 40 (20 M, 20 F) children admitted to Mersin University Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic between 2015-2020 with complaints of premature fontanel closure. Patients with dysmorphic features, microcephaly, craniosynostosis, hypoxic-ischemic sequelae, infections, metabolic disorders, intracranial hemorrhage, epilepsy, endocrine problems, additional congenital anomalies, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), prematurity, and postmaturity were excluded. The Denver II and Bayley III tests were applied to all patients and controls.ResultsThe Denver II identified retardations in gross motor skills (p = 0.015) and personal-social skills (p = 0.042) and Bayley III in cognitive (p = 0.030) and motor skills (p = 0.007) in the study group. None of the participants in the study group had neurodevelopmental retardation, according to the Bayley III normal standards.DiscussionOur results suggest that children with premature fontanel closure may develop motor retardation. These children should, therefore, be closely monitored for neurodevelopmental aspects.

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