Diagnosis and treatment of positional plagiocephaly

ABSTRACT

Positional plagiocephaly is increasing in infants. Positional plagiocephaly is an asymmetric deformationof skull due to various reasons; first birth, assisted labor, multiple pregnancy, prematurity,congenital muscular torticollis and position of head. Positional plagiocephaly can mostly be diagnosedclinically and by physical examinations. The simplest way to assess the severity of plagiocephalyis to use a diagonal caliper during physical examination, which measures the differencebetween the diagonal lengths on each side of the head. Plagiocephaly can be treated surgically orconservatively. Positional plagiocephaly, which is not accompanied by craniosynostosis, is treatedconservatively. Conservative treatments involve a variety of treatments, such as change of positions,physiotherapy, massage therapy, and helmet therapy. Systematic approaches to clinical examination,diagnosis and treatment of positional plagiocephaly can be necessary and the age-appropriatetreatment is recommended for patients with positional plagiocephaly.