Flathead
syndrome, also known as plagiocephaly often happens when babies sleep with
their heads turned in a particular direction (usually flat) during the first
few months of life. This condition is common among babies and causes a flat
spot on the back or one side of the head.
There
are two types of Plagiocephaly
·
Congenital
Plagiocephaly
Congenital Plagiocephaly, also
known as craniosynostosis, is a rare birth defect that occurs in one out of
every 2,000 to 2,500 births. In infants with this condition, the fibrous spaces
between the skull bones, known as sutures, prematurely close resulting in an
abnormally shaped head.
·
Positional
Plagiocephaly
Positional plagiocephaly, also
called deformational plagiocephaly, is the most common type of flat head
syndrome. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, this
condition affects up to 50 percent of babies.
Can
Plagiocephaly Lead to Complication?
Position
plagiocephaly is considered more of a cosmetic issue and can often be resolved
with reliable treatment. In the majority of cases, it doesn’t affect brain
growth or development.
Surgery is
sometimes necessary when sutures in the skull have prematurely closed. Surgery
can help reduce pressure in the skull allowing the brain to grow naturally.
While some
cases improve with time as the child grows, or with surgery, others require
special flat head treatment in New Jersey.
What
are the best plagiocephaly treatments?
- Exercise
If the baby has muscular
torticollis, the doctor may recommend some stretching exercises to strengthen
the neck muscles and improve the range of motion.
- Molding helmet therapy
Molding Helmets is a reliable
and successful plagiocephaly treatment in New York. This involves
the infant wearing a custom-fitted helmet or band that will gently help
habilitate the skull into a symmetrical shape.
The
recommended age for helmet therapy is 3 to 6 months. It can take up to 12 weeks
for the skull to be reshaped using this therapy and is often reserved for those
with more moderate to severe cases of plagiocephaly.
For more
information about molding helmet therapy, visit www.shorthillscranialcenter.com