What is mild plagiocephaly?

What is mild plagiocephaly?

Deformational, or positional, plagiocephaly is when a baby develops a flat spot on one side of the head or the whole back of the head. It happens when a baby sleeps in the same position most of the time or because of problems with the neck muscles that result in a head-turning preference.

When should I worry about baby flat head?

See your GP or child and family health nurse if you’re concerned about your baby’s head shape, or your baby has a: strangely shaped head or a flat spot, which hasn’t gone back to a normal shape by about two months of age. strong preference for turning his head to one side. difficulty turning his head.

What is moderate plagiocephaly?

An asymmetry of over 12mm is considered moderate, whilst a difference of over 18mm is regarded as a severe flat head. We often see asymmetries of over 25mm as well as head shapes than are wider than they are long, at significantly over 100%.

What is a normal cranial index?

Scale for Cephalic Index (CI) Normal: 75 – 90 mm. Mild: 91 – 93 mm. Moderate: 94 – 97 mm. Severe: >97 mm. Normocephaly or plagiocephaly = CI >76%-<90%

How do you classify plagiocephaly?

Head shape deformities are typically classed as mild, moderate or severe depending on a number of factors. There is currently no international standard system for plagiocephaly measurement, and so diagnosis is typically based on clinical judgement and varies from country to country.

How serious is plagiocephaly?

Positional plagiocephaly does not usually cause serious complications. If congenital plagiocephaly, which is caused by craniosynostosis, is left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, including: Head deformities, possibly severe and permanent. Increased pressure inside the head.

Will baby’s head round out?

A newborn’s head is pliable and soft to allow the baby’s skull to move through the birth canal. It’s normal for babies’ heads to become misshapen after birth and in the first few months of life. Fortunately, most heads will round out during infancy.

How can I make sure my baby’s head is round?

Try these tips:

1. Practice tummy time. Provide plenty of supervised time for your baby to lie on the stomach while awake during the day.
2. Vary positions in the crib. Consider how you lay your baby down in the crib.
3. Hold your baby more often.
4. Change the head position while your baby sleeps.

What if plagiocephaly is left untreated?

Living with plagiocephaly They can grow out of it naturally or correct it with therapy. It is unlikely to cause issues with their brain growth or function. However, if plagiocephaly is left untreated, children are at risk of developmental, neurological, or psychological difficulties.

When should plagiocephaly be treated?

When treatment starts at the optimum age of 3-6 months, it usually can be completed within 12 weeks. Correction is still possible in babies up to age 18 months, but will take longer.

What is the normal size of plagiocephaly?

Normal head shape: 0 – 4 mm Mild Plagiocephaly: 5 – 9 mm Moderate Plagiocephaly: 10 – 15 mm Severe Plagiocephaly: >15 mm Cranial vault asymmetry also referred to as diagonal difference, oblique diagonal difference, or transcranial difference. CVA is the difference between 2 diagonal measurements.

How do I know if my baby has plagiocephaly?

Although many parents are becoming more aware of plagiocephaly, it can be difficult to know what to look for. At around eight weeks of age it becomes obvious to parents that their baby’s head is developing a flattening and plagiocephaly is characterised by a flattening to one side of the back of the head.

What is the normal cephalic ratio during delivery?

During delivery the baby needs to squeeze through a narrow passageway which can result in a head deformity. Normal head shapes for babies should have a Cranial Vault Asymmetry of 0 to 4 mm (millimeters) and have a Cephalic Ratio of 75 to 90 mm

What is positional plagiocephaly?

Positional plagiocephaly is a deformation of the skull produced by extrinsic forces acting on an intrinsically normal skull. The greatest amount of deformation usually occurs in the first 3 months of life when the skull is most malleable and when an infant spends the majority of time lying on his or her back.