The Cranial Remolding Program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio specializes in the evaluation and treatment of head shape abnormalities. These deformities are relatively common and highly treatable with early intervention. Roughly one out of five children develops some kind of head shape abnormality during infancy. Cranial molding therapy is often recommended to corre
ct these abnormalities and ensure proper head growth. Head shape abnormalities are frequently attributed to conditions like plagiocephaly and craniosynostosis. Plagiocephaly (sometimes called deformational plagiocephaly, positional plagiocephaly, or “flat head syndrome”) is a condition in which a flat spot develops on an infant’s head. This distortion can be caused by several factors, including restrictive positioning in the uterus, muscular torticollis (tight neck muscles that limit head movement), or extended periods of time spent in the same position (such as an infant lying on their back while sleeping). In order to understand craniosynostosis, one must become familiar with the anatomy and development of an infant’s brain. In newborns, the plates of bone that make up the skull are separated by flexible, fibrous hinges called sutures. These sutures respond to brain growth by “stretching” and producing new bone, which allows the developing skull to grow along with the brain. Over time, the sutures fuse together with the plates to form a single piece of bone. In children with craniosynostosis, some sutures fuse too early. Because their brains continue to expand within that restrictive space, the growth and appearance of their heads can become distorted. The fused sutures must be released surgically in order for the brain to resume its normal growth pattern.
