Deformational plagiocephaly: diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
The "Back to Sleep" campaign has dramatically decreased the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome; however, its sequelae of deformational plagiocephaly have today reached epidemic proportions. In the last decade, we have learned to distinguish deformational plagiocephaly clinically from craniosynostosis, thereby preventing its unnecessary surgical correction. Primary care providers must increasingly be aware of this condition and, in turn, educate new parents about its prevention. Should preventative measures fail and infants develop persistent sleep patterns that result in craniofacial deformities, deformational plagiocephaly can be treated successfully with behavior modification or cranial molding-helmet therapy.
Losee
Joseph E
JE
Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. joseph.losee@chp.edu
Mason
A Corde
AC
D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D049068:Plagiocephaly, Nonsynostotic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D016683:Supine Position