Intermediate
Technical
IVT
plagiocephaly
Pronunciation: play-jee-oh-SEF-uh-lee
Asymmetrical flattening of the skull, either positional or due to premature suture fusion.
Full Definition
A cranial deformity characterized by asymmetrical flattening of one side of the skull, resulting in a parallelogram-shaped head when viewed from above. Plagiocephaly can be positional (deformational) due to external forces such as sustained positioning, or synostotic due to premature fusion of one lambdoid or coronal suture. Positional plagiocephaly is more common and typically managed conservatively with repositioning and helmet therapy, while synostotic plagiocephaly requires surgical intervention.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish between positional (deformational) and synostotic plagiocephaly in clinical documentation.
In Context
- "The infant's plagiocephaly was determined to be positional rather than synostotic." — Clinical diagnosis
- "Severe plagiocephaly secondary to lambdoid synostosis required surgical correction." — Surgical consultation note
Also known as
asymmetric skull flattening
Contrasted with
brachycephaly
scaphocephaly
Don't confuse with
brachycephaly
positional flattening