![]() ![]() As a baby grows up, this can affect their self-esteem and cause social issues in adult life. In addition, a severe head deformity can lead to craniofacial abnormalities. More research needs to be conducted to fully understand the long-term effects. Some of these include motor asymmetries, delayed reaching skills, reduced flexibility in scapular retractors and tightness in the spinal extensors. However, long-term consequences have been found to be associated with severe cases of dolichocephaly. The cause for concern is mainly aesthetic reasons. Typically, positional skull deformities do not require surgery as they do not impact brain growth and cognitive development. The AAP states that for the majority of infants, a misshapen head does not pose a serious health risk. The sagittal suture is located at the top of the infant’s head near its soft spot and runs along to the back of the head. In dolichocephaly, sagittal synostosis is most often the cause. The prevalence of craniosynostosis in the United States is estimated to be 1 in every 2,500 babies. Surgery is required as it can cause developmental delays, seizures, blindness, and cognitive impairment. This can cause pressure to build up in the skull. In some cases where more than one suture fuses too early, there may not be enough room for the brain to properly grow. The brain will grow to its normal size however, this can cause a cranial deformity. When this happens, the brain is unable to grow in the parts of the skull that joined prematurely but continues to grow in the other parts. Sutures are the spaces filled with a flexible material between the bone plates of a baby’s skull. CraniosynostosisĬraniosynostosis is a congenital birth defect in which the sutures in an infant’s skull close too early before the brain is completely formed. However, the baby’s extended hospitalization stay can cause skull flattening on each side and lead to dolichocephaly. The side-lying position is preferred for NICU infants because it helps prevent health complications by reducing reflux, apnea and bradycardia. Extended side-lying positionĭolichocephaly is also referred to as NICUcephaly because most cases occur in preterm infants who are born at less than 32 weeks gestation and have spent a significant amount of time in the NICU. There are two main causes of dolichocephaly: 1. It can develop in babies who stay in a particular position for an extended amount of time. It is unknown whether there are specific risk factors associated with dolichocephaly. The shape is often caused during their time after birth and has been found to be more common among babies with a prolonged stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In babies with dolichocephaly (scaphocephaly), the positional skull deformity is characterized by a head shape that is longer and narrower, similar to a boat. It is during this time when babies are the least mobile and are unable to roll, change positions, or sit up on their own. ![]() ![]() The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that for most babies (about 80%), a positional skull deformity occurs during the first 4 to 12 weeks of life. Depending on the position they are in, this can cause their head shape to alter. Positional skull deformity occurs when a baby stays in the same position for a long time. Sometimes the face and forehead may bulge a little on the flat side. With plagiocephaly, the ears may also be misaligned. This is when the head is flattened on just one side, causing it to look asymmetrical. You may have also heard the term plagiocephaly before. ![]() This article explains what dolichocephaly is, its causes, potential complications, and the types of treatments that are available. However, if your baby’s skull shape looks severely misshapen, they may have a condition called dolichocephaly. Over time, a baby’s head will slowly round out and the head deformity diminishes. In addition, their heads are supposed to be moldable to prepare for the amount their brains will grow in the first 12 months of life. This allows the baby’s head to squeeze through the birth canal during labor. The bone plates in a baby’s skull aren’t fused together yet and can shift around. It’s common for a baby to be born with a slightly misshapen head. ![]()
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