Williams S, Blum CL, Billings S. Plagiocephaly:
The Oblique Skull A Method Of Chiropractic Correction. J Chirop Edu. Spr 2008;22(2).
[Clinical Chiropractic, Jun
2010; 13(2):195-6.]
Introduction: Plagiocephaly is
general term used to describe cranial asymmetry.
Pathologenically, plagiocephaly is classified as synostotic (SP),
caused by abnormal sutural development or deformational (DP)
(non-synostotic or positional), caused by external forces acting on the
cranium. Commonly accepted treatments for DP include alternate sleeping
postures, carefully monitoring the child when placed in a prone
position, as well as in resistant cases use of cranial orthoses or
helmets. Chiropractic -Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT) cranial
care might offer a conservative option that is a bridge between
alternate sleeping and use of a helmet.
Case Report - Assessment:
This case report presents a four and a half month old male child
presenting at a chiropractor’s office. The child’s working
diagnosis was: (1) Occipital condyle compression, (2) Plagiocephaly;
and (3) KISS syndrome type 1. Specific SOT cranial treatment was
used to correct the child’s presenting plagiocephaly. This
patient received 12 treatments over a period of 3 months and showed a
significant improvement in head shape.
Discussion: DP has some
concomitant syndromes that might be coincidental or related in a
primary or secondary manner, which include scoliosis, KISS, and
torticollis. From a biological plausibility standpoint it would seem
that allowing the brain to grow in a symmetrical fashion, balanced
stress on vascular membranes, and maintaining normal anchoring of
muscular attachments would be beneficial. Recent research has indeed
found a relationship between DP and neurodevelopmental delays and that
posterior DP may even affect visual field development.
Conclusion: The purpose of this
paper was to offer an alternative view of how DF might be treated in a
chiropractor’s office and at what stage intervention might prove
effective. Since parents often are not willing to “just wait and
see” and are leaning towards some degree of intervention, chiropractic
cranial care appears to be a viable intermediate therapy and may
facilitate a reduced need for helmet therapy.