Overview of Plagiocephaly

Since 1992, when the American Academy of Pediatricians made the recommendation for infants to be positioned on their sides or back for sleeping, to decrease the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the occurrence of deformational plagiocephaly has risen to estimates as high as 40% of healthy infants.

Positional plagiocephaly is characterized by a flattening of one side of the back of the head, forward progression of the ear on the same side, and a bulging of the forehead on that same side.

For those infants who do not make progress with therapy or positioning by three months of age, the prescription of a custom orthosis is recommended. At Boston Brace, we manufacture a cranial remolding helmet known as the Boston Band. We utilize a unique layering technique for our helmets which gives the Orthotist the ability to remove layers whenever necessary, thereby allowing the infants head to grow in a normal fashion.