Positional plagiocephaly: what the pediatrician needs to know. A review

Positional or deformational plagiocephaly is the most common type of cranial asymmetry in infancy and has become more prevalent after the introduction of the "Back to Sleep" campaign in Western countries. However, the supine position cannot be considered as the only etiologic factor and different predisposing variables have been investigated in the last few years.

The pediatrician should correctly diagnose this condition and exclude the possibility of craniosynostosis in any child with plagiocephaly in order to optimize management and reduce potential morbidity associated with different conditions other than positional ones. In addition, the pediatrician needs to be able to educate parents on methods to proactively decrease the likelihood of the development of occipital flattening, initiate appropriate management, and make referrals when necessary.