Plagiocephaly surgery in Highland Park, TX

Parents located in Highland Park, TX can trust the International Craniofacial Institute to provide accurate evaluation and treatment of deformational plagiocephaly, a misshapen head caused by repeated or prolonged positioning on a particular area of the skull.

The International Craniofacial Institute’s Head Shape/Plagiocephaly Clinic focuses on treating and preventing the disorder by employing the most advanced conservative measures while emphasizing the importance of “tummy time” and neck-stretching activities for your baby. Our staff will assess your child’s head shape to help rule out more serious causes of a misshapen skull, such as premature closure of skull sutures (craniosynostosis), which happens to approximately one out of every 2,500 infants.

What Is Abnormal Head Shape?

Deformational plagiocephaly, or an abnormal head shape, is often caused from:

• In the Womb: Multiples or singletons that stay in the same position for extended periods.
• Prematurity: The bones of the skull are soft at birth and are more malleable when they stay in the same position for too long.
• Torticollis or Sternocleidomastoid Imbalance: Abnormalities in the neck can cause a baby’s neck to stay in a certain position because of poor range of motion. This typically presents the head tilting off to the side.
• Time spent in baby carriers, swings, bouncy seats and other things that allow the baby to lie on the back for long periods.
• Lack of Tummy Time: Although experts recommend that babies sleep on their backs, it’s critical that your baby engages in plenty of supervised “tummy time” each day.

Early Intervention

Deformational plagiocephaly during infancy can be addressed without the use of helmet therapy. The best time to address this problem is during the first 12 months since the skull bones are still soft and will react favorably to tummy time and neck stretches. The shape of your child’s head will continue to improve through infancy and their toddler years.

If you discover that your child’s neck tilts to one side, their head is unusually wide (brachycephalic) or narrow and elongated (scaphoid) or if you have any other concerns or questions about the shape of your baby’s head, please contact us today to obtain the highest quality care possible.