Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2020-12
Distinguishing Between Lambdoid Craniosynostosis and Deformational Plagiocephaly: A Review of This Paradigm Shift in Clinical Decision-Making and Lesson for the Future
The cause of occipital asymmtery can be either extrinsic or intrinsic. Intrinsic causes include lambdoid craniosynsotosis. This condition is generally treated with cranial vault expansion surgery. Extrinsic causes include deformational plagiocephaly, which became commonplace after the "Back to Sleep Campaign" instituted in the 1980s by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The treatment of this condition is non surgical. Dr. Joseph Gruss was instumental in differentiating between these conditions and reducing the number of unnecessary surgeries that were previously being performed.
MawjiAVollmanARHatfieldJMcNeilDASauveR. The incidence of positional plagiocephaly: a cohort study. Pediatrics. 2013;132(2):298–304.
2.
BallardiniESistiMBasagliaN, et al.Prevalence and characteristics of positional plagiocephaly in healthy full-term infants at 8-12 weeks of life. Eur J Pediatr. 2018;177(10):1547–1554.
3.
FlanneryAMTamberMSMazzolaC, et al.Congress of neurological surgeons systematic review and evidence-based guidelines for the management of patients with positional plagiocephaly: executive summary. Neurosurgery. 2016;79(5):623–624.
4.
JonesKL. Smith’s recognizable patterns of human malformation. vol sixth. philadelphia: Arch Dis Child. 2007;92(6):562.
5.
GrahamJJSanchez-LaraP. Smith’s Recognizable Patterns of Human Deformation. 4th ed. Elsevier Health Sciences. 2015.
6.
PersingJAJaneJAShaffreyM. Virchow and the pathogenesis of craniosynostosis: a translation of his original work. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1989;83(4):738–742.
7.
RhodesJLTyeGWFearonJA. Craniosynostosis of the lambdoid suture. Semin Plast Surg. 2014;28(3):138–143.
8.
McCarthyJGWarrenSMBernsteinJ, et al.Parameters of care for craniosynostosis. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2012;49:1S–24S.
9.
PersingJ. Controversies regarding the management of skull abnormalities. J Craniofac Surg. 1997;8(1):4–5.
10.
FearonJASinghDJBealsSPYuJC. The diagnosis and treatment of single-sutural synostoses: Are computed tomographic scans necessary?Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007;120(5):1327–1331.
11.
LaneL. Pioneer craniectomy for relieve of mental imbecility due to premature sutural closure and microcphalus. J Am Med Assoc. 1892;18:49–50.
12.
MathijssenIM. Guideline for care of patients with the diagnoses of craniosynostosis: working group on craniosynostosis. J Craniofac Surg. 2015;26(6):1735–1807.
13.
MoonRY. SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths: evidence base for 2016 updated recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment. Pediatrics. 2016;138(5):e20162940. doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-2940
14.
KaneAAMitchellLECravenKPMarshJL. Observations on a recent increase in plagiocephaly without synostosis. Pediatrics. 1996;97(6 Pt 1):877–885.
15.
AldermanBWFernbachSKGreeneCMangioneEJFergusonSW. Diagnostic practice and the estimated prevalence of craniosynostosis in Colorado. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151(2):159–164.
16.
VacaEEShethNPurnellCAMcGrathJLGosainAK. Secondary suture fusion after primary correction of nonsyndromic craniosynostosis: recognition of the problem and identification of risk factors. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2020;145(2):493–503.
17.
CarsonBSJamesCSVanderKolkCAGuarnieriM. Lambdoid synostosis and occipital plagiocephaly: clinical decision rules for surgical intervention. Neurosurg Focus. 1997;2(2):e5; discussion 1 p following e5
18.
HuangMHGrussJSClarrenSK, et al.The differential diagnosis of posterior plagiocephaly: true lambdoid synostosis versus positional molding. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1996;98(5):765–774; discussion 775-776
19.
HuangMHMouradianWECohenSRGrussJS. The differential diagnosis of abnormal head shapes: separating craniosynostosis from positional deformities and normal variants. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 1998;35(3):204–211.
20.
Systematic review and evidence-based guidelines for the management of patients with positional plagiocephaly. Pediatrics. 2016;138(5):e20162802. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-2802
21.
BairdLCKlimoPJrFlanneryAM, et al.Congress of neurological surgeons systematic review and evidence-based guideline for the management of patients with positional plagiocephaly: the role of physical therapy. Neurosurgery. 2016;79(5):E630–E631.
22.
KlimoPJrLingoPRBairdLC, et al.Congress of neurological surgeons systematic review and evidence-based guideline on the management of patients with positional plagiocephaly: the role of repositioning. Neurosurgery. 2016;79(5):E627–E629.
23.
CollettBRGrayKEStarrJRHeikeCLCunninghamMLSpeltzML. Development at age 36 months in children with deformational plagiocephaly. Pediatrics. 2013;131(1):e109–e115.
24.
ProctorMRMearaJG. A review of the management of single-suture craniosynostosis, past, present, and future. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2019;24(6):622–631.
25.
FearonJADimasVDitthakasemK.Lambdoid craniosynostosis: the relationship with chiari deformations and an analysis of surgical outcomes. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016;137(3):946–951.
26.
VuHLPanchalJParkerEELevineNSFrancelP. The timing of physiologic closure of the metopic suture: a review of 159 patients using reconstructed 3D CT scans of the craniofacial region. J Craniofac Surg. 2001;12(6):527–532.
27.
BirgfeldCBSaltzmanBSHingAV, et al.Making the diagnosis: metopic ridge versus metopic craniosynostosis. J Craniofac Surg. 2013;24(1):178–185.
28.
BirgfeldCBHeikeCLAl-MufarrejF, et al.Practical computed tomography scan findings for distinguishing metopic craniosynostosis from metopic ridging. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open.2019;7(3):e1944.
29.
BirgfeldCBDuftonLNaumannH, et al.Safety of open cranial vault surgery for single-suture craniosynostosis: a case for the multidisciplinary team. J Craniofac Surg. 2015;26(7):2052–2058.
