ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines a case scenario on skull deformities followed by a highly detailed explanation of the condition and its management, presenting the symptoms in a way that are likely to be encountered in general practice. The highly malleable, soft infantile skull is prone to asymmetrical moulding and misshapenness. External pressures after birth or in utero and intrapartum constraints may give rise to various skull shapes. These are commonly referred to as benign positional skull deformities and are different from the potentially more serious deformities caused by early fusion of one or more of the skull sutures, referred to as craniosynostosis. Most positional deformities, with time, will become less apparent as the infant skull enlarges and grows more hair. Indications for specialist referral of children with positional skull deformities include failure to correct or progression of deformity despite conservative measures, torticollis not responding to stretching exercises or when the diagnosis is in doubt.
