|
Welcome
to CAPP (Craniosynostosis and Positional Plagiochephaly).
| Abnormal head shapes may result from various causes. The skull
is made up of multiple bones, with growth junctions (sutures) between
them. During the delivery process the skull contracts (the bones
overlap) in the birth canal. This may cause temporary distortion
of the head, which should return to normal within six weeks. The
sutures also allow the skull to expand during rapid brain growth
in the first year of life.
Craniosynostosis can affect one or more sutures. The names indicate
the shape that occurs when different sutures are involved. Early
closure (synostosis) of one of these crainal sutures can cause
uneven growth of the skull. As the brain enlarges, skull growth
in the prematurely closed area is constricted, forcing bone overgrowth
in other areas. Treatment for craniosynostosis requires surgery.
|
|
| Plagiocephaly (Fig.2a); uneven shaped forehead. Trigonocephaly
(Fig.2b); triangular shaped forehead. Scaphocephaly (Fig.2c); Long
narrow head. Brachycephaly (Fig.2d); Short wide head.
Causes for abnormal head shapes positional molding and can also
be associated with premature birth, restrictive intrauterine positioning,
cervical abnormalities, birth trauma, torticollis (shortening of
the neck muscle) and even sleeping positions. Treatment for positional
molding includes repositioning the head, exercise and/or a corrective
orthotic headband. Positional molding may resemble craniosynostosis.
It is essential to obtain the correct diagnosis for proper treatment. |
| |
|
|
