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Early neurodevelopment in infants with deformational plagiocephaly

Sarah J Knight1, Vicki A Anderson, John G Meara

  • 1Psychological Sciences and †Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. sarah.knight@mcri.edu.au

The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
|July 16, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Infants with deformational plagiocephaly (DP) often show weaker motor skills, particularly males. While not causing developmental issues, DP may signal a risk, highlighting the need for developmental screening.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric neurodevelopment
  • Infant motor development
  • Cranial orthotics

Background:

  • Deformational plagiocephaly (DP) is a common condition in infants.
  • Early identification of potential developmental impacts is crucial for intervention.
  • Understanding the neurodevelopmental profile associated with DP is important for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the early neurodevelopmental profile of Australian infants diagnosed with deformational plagiocephaly (DP).
  • To assess cognitive and motor skills in infants with DP before initiating treatment.
  • To identify any significant differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes between infants with DP and the general population.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition, for assessment.
  • Recruited 21 infants with a confirmed DP diagnosis (mean age 7.9 months).
  • Compared the neurodevelopmental scores of infants with DP to normative population data.

Main Results:

  • Infants with DP, as a group, demonstrated significantly weaker motor skills compared to normative data.
  • No significant differences were found in cognitive abilities between infants with DP and the normative population.
  • Male infants with DP exhibited significantly reduced motor abilities compared to female infants with DP.

Conclusions:

  • Deformational plagiocephaly (DP) itself does not appear to cause developmental problems.
  • DP may serve as a potential marker indicating a risk for developmental concerns.
  • Routine developmental screening is recommended for infants diagnosed with DP to identify potential issues early.

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