Overview of Plagiocephaly

Since 1992 there has been a dramatic increase in the number of cases of positional or deformational plagiocephaly. This correlates well with the back to sleep campaign beginning in 1992 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This was recommended to decrease the incidence of Sudden Infants Death Syndrome (SIDS) in babies. With the majority of patients now sleeping on their backs at night there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of cases of SIDS as much as 50%. The number of children with deformation of the skull, however, has increased dramatically as well.

What is Plagiocephaly?

Plagio is a Greek term meaning crooked. Plagiocephaly is an abnormality of the skull resulting in an asymmetrical skull with a flat spot on one side of the back of head. Various degrees of severity occur. Minimal cases have flatness on one side of the back of the skull. As the condition becomes more significant the ear on the same side as the flat spot is pushed forward and frequently down. With more deformation of the skull, the forehead on the affected side budges forward as the growing brain tries to enlarge the skull. The head at this stage has a parallelogram shape when viewed from above. If the skull asymmetry becomes more severe the face becomes affected and the cheek on the involved side protrudes more and asymmetry of the eyes is seen. This is more easily seen with a child facing a mirror. In the most severe form of the condition there is enough constriction of the skull that proper brain development is impedied.  Bulging may occur in the temporal area where the thinnest skull is present.

In most cases, this is a highly treatable condition if it is diagnosed properly and quickly. (more)