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Baby
Flat Head/Deformational Plagiocephaly
Baby flat head has become common since the recommendation of the
supine sleeping position to minimize the risk of cot death
Why does baby flat head occur?
The infant skull is soft and pliable to allow birth to occur and
for rapid brain growth. The skull changes shape rapidly as the brain
grows.
If the head rests on a flat surface the brain cannot push the
skull out in that direction. It compensates by growing out in areas
not under pressure and this makes the flat spot more pronounced.
Young babies have poor head control. It is easier for them to
rest their heads on the flat spot once it has developed.
Predisposing factors
Most babies will have a perfectly normal head shape at birth. A
very small number will have some deformation due to intrauterine
constriction against the pelvis or ribs. Twins are at higher risk.
A small number have a tender area following the birth process
and will avoid pressure on that spot. This can occur with Ventouse
suction caps, some instrumentation and a cephalohaematoma.
Some babies have a torticollis or tight neck muscles. Your baby
should be able to freely bring their chin to their shoulder. A tight
neck muscle will prevent the head turning and a flat spot will develop.
Most torticollis cases respond to home physiotherapy.
Are there other causes of unusual head shape?
Early fusion of the skull joints (craniosynostosis) produces very
characteristic shapes depending on the suture involved. It is usually
easy to differentiate from deformational causes.
1. The back of the head is flat, usually on one side but sometimes
symmetrically.
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2. The ear on the flat side is
pushed further forward than the other ear when viewed from
on top.
This ear may also appear more prominent. However both ears
will appear to be the same height when viewed from the front.
3. The forehead on the flat side will gradually also start
to protrude more when viewed from the top. |
4. There is a compensatory bulge out the back on the opposite side
of the flat area where the brain continues to grow out. In symmetrically
flat heads this bulge occurs on both sides.
Is baby flat head dangerous?
Skull deformation has no known effects on intellectual development.
This has been looked at in multiple studies. Some ancient cultures
bound heads to change the shape.
Headgear may need to be altered eg padding of bicycle helmets.
Severe variations of normal may have psychosocial consequences in
some individuals.
What can I do to improve my babies head shape?
| You must keep all weight off the flat area
24 hours a day for up to one year to allow the brain to grow
out.
This will only be successful if your baby is still on the
steep part of the brain growth curve.
However even after 18 months of age some improvement will
be seen. |
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How can I keep weight off the flat area?
What works will be different for each child and will change as their
development progresses.
The following suggestions may help.
- ensure they can freely turn their head. Start physio if the
neck is stiff.
- At night time
-Do not put them to sleep with the head on the flat spot. Turn
the head to one side.
-If possible sleep on alternating sides but ensure baby cannot
accidentally role onto their front.
-Turn the cot so the head is turned towards toys and people entering
the room.
-Turn a rolled cloth behind their back and another under the opposite
knee.
-A Velcro safe-T sleep device can help hold position in younger
children.
-A wedge under the mattress to tilt it to one side.
- Day time
- Try not to leave lying flat on baby mats
- Lots of tummy time to strengthen neck muscles and head control
- Sit more upright in baggies and car seats. The weight of the
head passes through the neck rather than the flat spot.
Is it safe to sleep my child on its side?
Unconscious adults are put on their side in the recovery position
to keep their tongue out of their airway.
This position is safe in children provided they cannot roll onto
their front onto a soft pillow and be unable to roll back to their
side. This depends on the age of the child.
Do helmets have a role?
Helmets are passive devices that keep weight of the flat area. If
parents are keeping all weight off the flat area, there is no advantage
in using a helmet.
Helmets may cause skin irritation and need to need to be regularly
adjusted. Our craniofacial programme does not use helmets but are
relaxed if parents we see wish to use them.
Does surgery have a role?
We operate on 1- 2% of children we see who are severely deformed
and in whom hair growth will not disguise the deformity.
Surgery is only considered after conservative measures have failed
and after approximately 18 months of age when brain growth is slowing.
What are the surgical options?
1. Spring cranioplasty.
Springs can be inserted across the normal lambdoid suture to move
the occipital plate posteriorly
2. Skull remodeling
The skull can be dissembled and reshaped. One procedure is the occipital
swap, swapping to two back halves of the skull. An example of a
case is shown on the media page, "Sophie's
Choice".
3. Implant
An implant can be put on the outside of the skull beneath the scalp
to disguise the shape. This should only be done in older children.
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