BACKGROUND: Especially in the first 6 months of life, skull deformities manifesting as a uni- or bilateral flattening of the occiput often give rise to questions of differential diagnosis and potential treatment. In this review, the authors summarize the current understanding of risk factors for this condition, and the current state of the relevant diagnostic assessment and options for treatment. METHODS: The recommendations given in this selective review of the literature are based on current studies and on existing guidelines on the prevention of sudden infant death, the recommendations of the German Society for Pediatric Neurology (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neuropädiatrie), and the American guidelines on the treatment of positional plagiocephaly in infancy. RESULTS: Pre-, peri-, and postnatal risk factors can contribute to the development of positional skull deformities. These deformities can be diagnosed and classified on the basis of their clinical features, supplemented in unclear cases by ultrasonography of the cranial sutures. The putative relationship between positional skull deformities and developmental delay is currently debated. The main preventive and therapeutic measure is parent education to foster correct positioning habits (turning of the infant to the less favored side; prone positioning on occasion when awake) and beneficial stimulation of the infant (to promote lying on the less favored side). If the range of motion of the head is limited, physiotherapy is an effective additional measure. In severe or refractory cases, a skull orthosis (splint) may be useful. CONCLUSION: The parents of children with positional skull deformities should be comprehensively informed about the necessary preventive and therapeutic measures. Treatment should be initiated early and provided in graded fashion, according to the degree of severity of the problem. Parental concern about the deformity should not be allowed to lead to a rejection of the reasonable recommendation for a supine sleeping position.
BACKGROUND: Especially in the first 6 months of life, skull deformities manifesting as a uni- or bilateral flattening of the occiput often give rise to questions of differential diagnosis and potential treatment. In this review, the authors summarize the current understanding of risk factors for this condition, and the current state of the relevant diagnostic assessment and options for treatment. METHODS: The recommendations given in this selective review of the literature are based on current studies and on existing guidelines on the prevention of sudden infant death, the recommendations of the German Society for Pediatric Neurology (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neuropädiatrie), and the American guidelines on the treatment of positional plagiocephaly in infancy. RESULTS: Pre-, peri-, and postnatal risk factors can contribute to the development of positional skull deformities. These deformities can be diagnosed and classified on the basis of their clinical features, supplemented in unclear cases by ultrasonography of the cranial sutures. The putative relationship between positional skull deformities and developmental delay is currently debated. The main preventive and therapeutic measure is parent education to foster correct positioning habits (turning of the infant to the less favored side; prone positioning on occasion when awake) and beneficial stimulation of the infant (to promote lying on the less favored side). If the range of motion of the head is limited, physiotherapy is an effective additional measure. In severe or refractory cases, a skull orthosis (splint) may be useful. CONCLUSION: The parents of children with positional skull deformities should be comprehensively informed about the necessary preventive and therapeutic measures. Treatment should be initiated early and provided in graded fashion, according to the degree of severity of the problem. Parental concern about the deformity should not be allowed to lead to a rejection of the reasonable recommendation for a supine sleeping position.
Authors: Christian Freudlsperger; Jens P Bodem; Steffen Kargus; Gregor Castrillon-Oberndorfer; Jürgen Hoffman; Michael Engel Journal: J Craniofac Surg Date: 2015-06 Impact factor: 1.046
Authors: Leo A van Vlimmeren; Yolanda van der Graaf; Magda M Boere-Boonekamp; Monique P L'Hoir; Paul J M Helders; Raoul H H Engelbert Journal: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med Date: 2008-08
Authors: Leo A van Vlimmeren; Raoul Hh Engelbert; Maaike Pelsma; Hans Mm Groenewoud; Magda M Boere-Boonekamp; Maria Wg Nijhuis-van der Sanden Journal: Eur J Pediatr Date: 2016-11-04 Impact factor: 3.183
Authors: Anniina M Launonen; Henri Aarnivala; Panagiotis Kyteas; Ville Vuollo; Tuomo Heikkinen; Chung H Kau; Pertti Pirttiniemi; Virpi Harila; A Marita Valkama Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2019-10-11 Impact factor: 4.241
Authors: Iñaki Pastor-Pons; María Orosia Lucha-López; Marta Barrau-Lalmolda; Iñaki Rodes-Pastor; Ángel Luis Rodríguez-Fernández; César Hidalgo-García; José Miguel Tricás-Moreno Journal: Children (Basel) Date: 2021-12-06