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Towards computer assisted evaluation of plagiocephaly
H A Donegan1, D C O'Flaherty, W G Kernohan
1Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Informatics, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, UK.
Insights
Plagiocephaly, a common skull asymmetry in neonates, can now be analytically evaluated using a novel photography-based measurement methodology. This method quantizes cranial shape to better understand this postural deformity.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Pediatric Deformities
- Biomechanical Analysis
Background:
- Plagiocephaly is a frequent skull asymmetry in neonates, often appearing as a unilateral compressive deformity.
- While typically benign, plagiocephaly can indicate underlying conditions like joint dysplasia.
- Existing intuitive measurements lack rigorous analytical evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and describe an analytical measurement methodology for plagiocephaly.
- To provide a quantitative approach for assessing cranial asymmetry in neonates.
Main Methods:
- Utilized black and white photography processed via a flat-bed scanner and personal computer.
- Transformed photographic data into tagged image file format (TIFF) at 256 grey scale.
- Developed an algorithm to compute the cranial profile centroid and map radials for signal display.
Main Results:
- Successfully converted photographic data into a digital format suitable for analysis.
- Implemented an algorithm to quantify cranial shape by analyzing radial distances from the centroid.
- Generated a signal display representing plagiocephaly based on computed cranial circumference.
Conclusions:
- The described photography-based methodology offers an analytical approach to measuring plagiocephaly.
- This quantitative method provides a more objective assessment of cranial asymmetry in neonates.
- Further research can explore clinical applications and validation of this measurement technique.
Abstract:
Plagiocephaly is a common asymmetry of the skull giving the impression that the subject, usually a neonate, has suffered a compressive force acting unilaterally. Normally innocuous, it is a postural deformity that can be suggestive of other significant abnormalities, e.g. joint dysplasia. Although intuitive measurements of plagiocephaly appear in the literature there is little evidence of analytical evaluation. This paper describes a measurement methodology based on black and white photography. A flat-bed scanner and a personal computer facilitated the transformation of the prepared photograph to standard tagged image file format at 256 grey scale. A utility was used to convert the file scan to a monochrome bitmap image which was displayed on the screen and subjected to an algorithm to compute the centroid of the cranial profile. Radials that emerge from the centroid to the cranial circumference at five degree intervals map to a signal display that represents the plagiocephaly.