The "back to sleep campaign" and deformational plagiocephaly : is there cause for concern?

摘要: In April 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended back or side sleeping for healthy newborns to reduce risk sudden infant death syndrome. Subsequently, US Public Health Service organized a health care coalition promote "Back Sleep Campaign" advocate infants. Since our craniofacial anomalies center has witnessed marked increase in incidence infants with defomational changes cranium and face. The purpose this project was study etiologies deformational plagiocephaly possible correlation head position. We reviewed 52 consecutive patients presenting from January 1992 December 1994. A diagnosis determined by (1) history (date when shape change first noted), (2) clinical examination (occipital flattening, contralateral forehead lowering eyebrow, ear shearing), (3) skull radiographs (patent cranial sutures). All had medical photography document baseline morphology any follow-up after nonsurgical therapy. Cranial asymmetry noted birth at mean time 3.6 months. were initially positioned on their back/side. patients, 61% right-sided flattening occiput (vs 39% left-sided). occiput, brow inferior displacement brow, posterioinferior ear. demonstrated patent sutures. Follow-up ranged 3 22 months 10.5 significant improvement form all frequent turning (73%), helmet molding (23%), surgery (4%). Our unit seen an number over last three years. affected been managed according officially protocol back/side positioning. These findings suggest relationship between type positioning development plagiocephaly. However, group decreased significantly have not vault remodeling mild moderate types deformity. if there is evidence increasing plagiocephalic during severe variants these deformities, surgical correction recommended.