What are cranial deformities?
Cranial deformities are abnormalities in the skull of infants that usually occur during the first months of life. There are different types of deformities, those that are related to intrautero, intrapartum or postural mechanical factors and those that are due to an organic cause, such as craniosynostosis which consists of the premature closure of certain sutures.
- Intrautero or intrapartum molding, due to multiple pregnancies; forceps; cupping.
- Postnatal:
- Congenital torticollis.
- Sapine position during sleep
- Posterior positional plagiocephaly
- Posterior positional brachycephaly
- Craniosynostosis:
- Scaphocephaly
- Plagiocephaly
- Brachycephaly
- Trigonocephaly
Prognosis of the disease
The prognosis of the disease will depend on the type of cranial deformity and the degree of involvement. For example, in the case of deformities related to intrauterine and intrapartum molding conditions usually improve during the first 6 weeks of life.
But usually these deformities require early surgical or osteopathic diagnosis and correction.
Symptoms of cranial deformities
The symptoms are basically visual and it is during the first months of the baby’s life when we notice the deformities the most. We usually highlight:
- A deformed skull
- Slow or no growth of the head as the infant grows
Medical tests for cranial deformities
The tests are going to be of diverse typologies:
- Physical examination. The doctor feels the head for abnormalities.
- Imaging studies. Through a computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Genetic testing.
What are the causes of cranial deformities?
The main cause of cranial deformities is usually due to external pressures compressing the back of the skull. This compression can occur within the maternal uterus or at birth; there are prenatal factors such as multiple pregnancies, uterine and pelvic bone anomalies, among others.
Postnatal factors include prematurity, torticollis and sternocleidomastoid injuries, obstetric brachial palsy and vertebral anomalies. These pathologies force the child to adopt vicious maintained positions. Other causes are related to the structure of the bone itself, such as hypothyroidism and rickets.
Can it be prevented?
We can try to monitor and modify the type of position the child takes, whether when sleeping, awake or held in the arms.
In the crib, if he is sleeping, it is preferable to alternate the lateral position of the head to one side or the other; if he is awake, it is recommended to leave him face down on his belly so that he can move his head easily. While being held, it is also recommended to alternate sides.
Treatments for cranial deformities
Treatment can range from simple stretching exercises to positioning, osteopathy or even a cranial remodeling orthosis or surgery.
What specialist treats it?
In terms of diagnosis, it is usually a pediatrician who is responsible for observing the pathology and diagnosing it in order to refer the patient to a neuropediatrician who will be in charge of treating the patient.