This results in growth restriction in a particular dimension of the skull and compensatory expansion in other dimensions. CraniosynostosisĬraniosynostosis is a condition whereby a normal space between the skull bones (suture) fuses prematurely. Treatment of this condition is with physiotherapy and in severe cases surgical release of the muscle. The inability to turn the head freely will then cause flattening and with time facial asymmetry. Torticollis (or wry neck), a tighteness of the strenomastoid muscle of the neck, may cause difficulty turning the head towards the affected side. No tests are required, the diagnosis is by clinical examination. Techniques such as turning the child’s cot, encouraging ‘tummy time’ during the day, positioning during daytime sleeps and careful use of wedges can be used.Īt Princess Margaret Hospital helmet therapy is not used as review of our results with this treatment did not confirm any benefit. Treatment is by avoiding pressure on the affected area.
Some images may be models.Find and instantly book your next health appointment with Healthengine Please be assured that physicians at Hermann Children's Hospital and the University of Texas Medical School at Houston provide your child the latest, most compassionate medical care.īefore and After Photos - individual results may vary. If you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask your child's physician. This information is provided to help you better understand craniofacial deformities. Long-term follow up in these children reveals that the correction does not relapse with further growth. The result of wearing the DOC Band® is typically a 70 percent rate of improvement, but the correction rate correlates with the severity of the deformity and the age that treatment was commenced. Severe cases in older children require longer periods of correction. The band is worn 23 hours a day and requires 3-4 months of wear. Ideally, the treatment is begun during the first six months of life. Infant treatment of positional deformities is with a molding cap, a dynamic orthotic cranioplasty (sm) (DOC) Band®.
If the deformity persists, however, treatment may be necessary. Some of these infants can be managed with just positioning, such as changing their sleeping position. An asymmetrical skull can result in asymmetries of the face causing various functional problems that affect chewing, speech, breathing, and vision. Deformities result from positioning during pregnancy, sleeping position, or from neck tightness. When they have increased skull height and/or a long, narrow skull it is scaphocephaly. They may have unilateral flattening of their posterior skull, which is plagiocephaly, and/or forehead bulging along with bilateral flattening, which is brachycephaly. Infants with positional deformities may present with a number of different head shapes. How do positional deformities cause abnormal head shape? Surgery involves removing the fused suture and repositioning the skull and/or face. In children with multiple affected sutures or with sagittal craniosynostosis, surgery is performed prior to three months of age. Surgery is ideally performed before nine months of age. Surgical treatment involves removing bone from both coronal sutures. What is craniosynostosis and how does it cause abnormal head shape?ĭiagram showing brachycephaly, a short, wide head, often caused by premature closure of both coronal sutures. Finally, in adolescence, they will again require surgery on the face and jaw. They usually require surgery to correct the skull prior to one year of age, and at age six to eight years of age to have the facial bones moved. These children have craniosynostosis and facial bone abnormalities as well as deformities of the hands and feet. What congenital syndromes cause abnormal head shape?Ī small number of children who present with abnormal head shape are born with identifiable syndromes, such as Crouzon's or Apert's. The smallest group are infants with craniofacial syndromes, such as Apert's, Crouzon's, and Pfeiffer's.The next most common group is those infants who present with early closure of the cranial sutures (craniosynostosis).The largest group of infants with an abnormal head shape is those who have positional deformities which develop during pregnancy or while sleeping.There are three causes of abnormal head shape in infants. Apert Syndrome - Abnormal head Shape Abnormal head shape What is meant by abnormal head shape?Īn abnormally shaped head is usually recognized at birth.