Positional Plagiocephaly

One of the most common problems that craniofacial surgeons are asked to evaluate is an abnormal skull shape. The two most common reasons for an abnormal skull shape in an infant are craniosynostosis and skull deformations.  Craniosynostosis is characterized by an abnormal fusion of one of the sutures (or expansion joints) of the skull leading to a very characteristic, abnormal pattern of skull growth. In skull deformations (also called positional or deformational plagiocephaly) the skull sutures are normal. However, the shape of the back part of the skull is abnormally flattened as a result of outside pressure. Positional plagiocephaly is the most common cause of abnormal skull shape in infants.

Causes of Positional Plagiocephaly

It’s likely that the flattening in the back of a baby’s head associated with positional plagiocephaly begins within the womb or shortly after. Sometimes, infants are born with a slight flattening on the back of their head as a result of positioning in the womb. Lying on this flattened side frequently becomes the position of comfort for the baby after birth, or the position that the baby’s head rolls to most naturally. This tendency to lie on the flattened part of the skull can become worse if the baby has been born with slight shortening or tightness of the neck muscles on one side. A baby can become more likely to develop positional plagiocephaly due to his limited range of motion in his neck and a tendency to always rest on the same spot on the back of the head.  Other conditions that lead to decreased muscle tone, such as prematurity or developmental delays, may also contribute to positional plagiocephaly.

Characteristic Traits

Positional plagiocephaly can be very mild and almost unnoticeable, or very severe.  The most notable thing about a child with positional plagiocephaly is the flattened appearance of the back of his head. Parents are also frequently aware of their baby's tendency to sleep or look to one side. Sometimes, when the flattening is severe, there may also be a mild prominence of the forehead on the same side. Additionally, the baby may have other facial features that are uneven.

Diagnosis

It is sometimes difficult, even for experienced pediatricians, to distinguish between positional plagiocephaly and craniosynostosis (abnormally fused skull sutures). Since the treatments for each of these conditions is very different, it is important to properly diagnose the cause of your infant's abnormal skull shape. Since the skull shape associated with positional plagiocephaly is very characteristic, the diagnosis is best made after a physical exam by your pediatrician. When there is a question about the diagnosis, your child should be evaluated by an experienced craniofacial surgeon.

During a physical exam, your pediatrician or craniofacial surgeon will assess the overall shape of his skull, measure the baby’s head circumference and feel the soft spots (or fontanels) to see if they are open or closed. In addition, your surgeon will check to see if there is any visible or palpable ridging over the sutures of the skull. Ridging refers to raised areas of bone that follow the course of the sutures. If a suture is fused, as in craniosynostosis, ridging is frequently seen or felt. Ridging is not a characteristic finding in positional plagiocephaly.  

Most diagnoses of positional plagiocephaly diagnoses can be made by physical exam alone. When the diagnosis is unclear, many pediatricians choose to obtain X-ray studies to rule out craniosynostosis.  However, we encourage parents of all children suspected of having positional plagiocephaly to be seen by a craniofacial surgeon prior to any diagnostic imaging since these studies may be unnecessary.

Treatment

Positional plagiocephaly almost never requires surgery.  In fact, most infants will probably not need any intervention. The expectation is that the skull shape will improve over time, even without treatment. Typically, you and your pediatrician will begin to note improvement in skull shape once your baby begins to roll onto his tummy or sit on her own.  

When shortened neck muscles are thought to be a contributing factor to the positional plagiocephaly, some craniofacial surgeons recommend physical therapy to help strengthen and loosen the baby’s tight neck muscles. Physical and occupational therapy may also have a role in treating positional plagiocephaly in infants who have motor delays or other chronic medical conditions.

When the positional plagiocephaly is severe, a shaping helmet may be recommended in order to encourage the skull to fill out in the flattened areas. Shaping helmet therapy can be started between 6 and 9 months of age. It is most effective in the first year of life, when skull growth is most rapid.  Beyond 1 year of age, brain growth slows down and skull shape is much more difficult to change with the use of a helmet.