Narrow heads of preterm infants--do they matter?

The biparietal diameters (BPD) and occipitofrontal diameters (OFD) were measured in a group of 203 newborn infants weighing 501 to 2000g, and at intervals until the age of three years. The heads of 96 normal-birthweight children were also measured. 11 per cent of the low-birthweight group had marked early narrowing, i.e. OFD/BPD (a/b) ratios of greater than 1.55. These babies were lighter and less mature, but by three years of age there was no significant difference in head shape or developmental quotient between these babies and the rest of the group. Intracranial pathology did not appear to affect head shape. At all ages the low-birthweight children showed greater head narrowing than those of normal birthweight.