Refers to a malformation of the head marked by an oblique slant to the main axis of the skull.
Presently the term has been applied to any condition characterized by a persistent flatten spot on the back or side of the head, also known as flat head syndrome.
Untreated children with plagiocephaly may experience other medical issues later in life.
The increase in the number of children with flatten heads attributed to the movement of having babies sleep on their backs.
The process can be much worse on one side if a child preferentially sleeps with that side down.
Deformational brachycephaly is a flattening across the back of the head.
Plagiocephaly and brachycephaly can occur together.
Common presentation at birth and may be the result of a restrictive intrauterine environment.
Often caused by inability of the infant to turn their head in one direction due to neck pain from torticollis.
Treatments range from a simple repositioning of babies below the age of 5 months to use of helmets in children under the age of 18 months.
No evidence to suggest that plagiocephaly is harmful to neurological development.
The condition will sometimes improve with time, but in many cases, ttreatment usually takes the form of reducing the pressure on the affected area through repositioning of the baby onto his or her abdomen.
Treatments include repositioning the child’s head throughout the day.
Helmets are used to treat deformational plagiocephaly, brachycephaly, scaphocephaly and other head shape deformities in infants 3–18 months of age.
A helmet, ref2242ed to as cranial remolding orthosis provides a pathway for more symmetrical skull growth.
Treatment generally takes 3–4 months,.