Brachycephaly

Positional brachycephaly is a cranial deformity consisting of a more or less symmetrical flattening of the entire back of the head .

A baby is considered to have brachycephaly when the width (distance from ear to ear) of its skull exceeds 81% of its length (front to back).

The head of these babies is shorter than normal, and to compensate, it can be wider when viewed from the front or taller when viewed from the side.

In some cases the cranial index is very high, between 90 and 100, which gives rise to a practically square head.

The following features are characteristic of brachycephaly :

Top view

The head is wider than long
The back of the head is flatter than curved

Profile view

The head is shorter in front than behind; that is high in the back
Flat head rear

Front view

The face looks small compared to the head
the head is wide
The widest part is just above the ears
The tops of the ears stick out

View from below

the head is wide
The widest part of the head is just above the ears
The forehead is flat, not rounded

Severity of Brachycephaly

Not sure if your baby has brachycephaly?

Brachycephaly can often be confused with plagiocephaly (also known as flat head syndrome). If you want to know more about
how to identify if your baby has a brachycephaly, or other cranial deformity this guide can help you distinguish the main distinguishing features of the main cranial deformities.

Treatment of brachycephaly

If your baby is between 4 and 18 months old, the best treatment for brachycephaly is a dynamic brace (cranial orthosis).

The treatment consists of using a custom-made orthopedic helmet to take advantage of the growth of the head and thus correct the deformity.

the hull exerts a restraint on prominent areas
so that the head grows through the unrestrained parts free of restraint

The treatment requires a series of regular visits to the specialist, who will make modifications to the helmet, depending on the growth of the skull.

This treatment is possible thanks to the fact that the fontanelles are more or less open during the first 2 years of life fontanelles of the skull are more or less open during the first 2 years of life, enough to be able to remodel the lost shape.

The treatment has an average duration of 4 months. It is advisable to treat brachycephaly as early as possible.

Learn more at more about the treatment.

With the use of the dynamic orthopedic helmet DOC Band® the treatment of plagiocephaly is easy, safe and comfortable for your child. This helmet has enabled the recovery of more than 300,000 babies worldwide. See the results.