4.4 Plagiocephaly

Question 1

What is a consequence of ensuring that infants sleep on their back to prevent SIDS

Answer 1

increase in cases of plagiocephaly and brachycephaly

Question 2

What is deformational plagiocephaly

Answer 2

cranial asymmetry from baby laying on its back for long periods of time causing a deformed skull

The head shape is commonly described as a parallelogram.
There is unilateral flattening of the occiput, with ipsilateral anterior shifting of the ear.
Less frequently, the head shape can be brachycephalic, with relatively symmetric flattening of the occiput.

Question 3

At what age is positional plagiocephaly most prevalent?

Answer 3

6 weeks - 4 months

Question 4

How can you prevent plagiocephaly

2

Answer 4

• positioning the baby with his/her head to the foot or to the head of the bed, on alternating days
• tummy time- 3x/day 10-15 mins each time

crib positioning –> this encourages the baby to lie on the side of the head that enables him or her to look into the room. Alternating the position should encourage lying equally on the two sides of the occiput.

Question 5

What nonsurgical tx is done for plagiocephaly

Answer 5

positioning + physio for mild

helmet therapy (moulding device) for severe

majority of cases resolve by age 2

xrays not needed unless suspect of crrainosynostosis - a condition where skull sutures close before the brain is fully formed.
This premature closure affects the shape of the head and, in some cases, the growth and development of the brain.