KEY POINTS The metopic suture is the first cranial suture to close and normally closes by 8 to 9 months. Mild degrees of metopic ridging occur frequently at birth, but unless there is progressive distortion of the orbits, it usually…
KEY POINTS Coronal craniosynostosis may occur as an isolated finding or as part of several genetic disorders. Coronal craniosynostosis can be unilateral or bilateral and can be caused by early descent of the fetal head into a constraining position, or…
KEY POINTS Sagittal craniosynostosis limits lateral cranial expansion, with progressive frontal and/or occipital prominence and ridging along the mid-posterior portion of the skull. Sagittal synostosis can result from fetal head constraint secondary to factors such as twining, oligohydramnios, or early…
KEY POINTS Differentiating between craniosynostosis and primary cranial deformation is critical to determining the proper mode of treatment. It is important for pediatric and primary care providers to know the normal range and timing of fontanel and cranial suture closure.…
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KEY POINTS Brachycephaly is defined as a shortened, wide head, often caused by constant supine positioning during infancy. Infants should be placed on their backs for sleep but on their stomachs during awake time under adult supervision to encourage neck…
KEY POINTS Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has a multifactorial and heterogeneous etiology with a triple-risk hypothesis proposed: (1) exogenous/environmental stressor, (2) early infancy, and (3) an underlying vulnerability or genetic susceptibility. Metabolic conditions have historically been thought to be…
KEY POINTS Deformational plagiocephaly is most common in first born, large babies, breech presentation, and multiple-gestation infants. Factors associated with asymmetric head deformation include a constraining intrauterine environment, clavicular fracture, cervical/vertebral abnormalities, and incomplete bone mineralization. Nonsynostotic , deformational ,…
KEY POINTS Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) must be distinguished from acquired torticollis and underlying structural torticollis (from cervical vertebral anomalies). It is most often caused by a congenital asymmetry in the length and/or strength of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles. CMT…
KEY POINTS Congenital compression of the chin can limit jaw growth before birth and result in asymmetric jaw retrusion. An asymmetric mandible can be secondary to an altered cranial base or a condylar abnormality secondary to genetic or environmental factors.…