Presentation
Dolichocephaly was more common in preterm fetuses in the breech presentation than those in the cephalic presentation and was more common in fetuses with oligohydramnios of long duration. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
It can present be in cases of Sensenbrenner syndrome, Crouzon syndrome, Sotos syndrome as well as Marfan syndrome. [en.wikipedia.org]
Musculoskeletal
- Dolichocephaly
The presence of dolichocephaly was highest in infants between 32 and 34 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA) (39%). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Dolichocephaly (derived from the Ancient Greek δολιχός, meaning "long") is a condition where the head is longer than would be expected, relative to its width. In humans, scaphocephaly is a form of dolichocephaly. [en.wikipedia.org]
Neurologic
- Irritability
After shunt revision, the irritability, sweating and kyphosis improved along with disappearance of the syringomyelia. [doi.org]
But these helmets and headbands generally aren't recommended because: there isn't clear evidence to suggest they work they often cause problems such as skin irritation and rashes they're expensive, typically costing around £2,000 your baby will need to [nhs.uk]
Treatment
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and summarize the evidence comparing nonsurgical therapies in the treatment of infants with deformational plagiocephaly. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
If there is an element of torticollis (neck stiffness) this will also require treatment in order for the repositioning therapy to be effective. [aans.org]
Treatment is not essential. Brachycephaly Cephalic index Plagiocephaly [en.wikipedia.org]
STARbandkids.com Parents and guardians looking for treatment options, please visit www.starbandkids.com. STARband Pattern Guide Choose how to decorate your STARband with this Transfer Guide. [orthomerica.com]
Prognosis
In fetuses with preterm premature rupture of membranes it is associated with respiratory distress syndrome, but not otherwise with a poor neonatal prognosis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prevention
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine effectiveness of a midliner positioning system (MPS, Tortle Midliner) for preventing dolichocephaly. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prevention The best treatment for a flat head is to prevent it from happening. It is important to establish these habits early! When flattening is noticed early, the same techniques used for prevention can help nip it in the bud. [healthychildren.org]
Preventive Counseling To prevent the deformity, parents should be counseled during the newborn period (by 2–4 weeks of age) when the skull is maximally deformable. [pediatrics.aappublications.org]
[…] premature babies are more likely to develop a flattened head because their skull is softer when they're born, and they may prefer to rest their head on 1 side at first as they're not yet able to move their head themselves neck muscle tightness – this can prevent [nhs.uk]