Overview
Isolated plagiocephaly — also called 'flat head syndrome' or positional plagiocephaly — is a condition where a baby's skull develops an asymmetrical or flattened shape. The word 'plagiocephaly' comes from Greek words meaning 'oblique head.' It is listed as 'obsolete' in some medical databases because it is now more precisely classified into subtypes, but the condition itself is still very real and commonly seen in infants. The skull of a newborn is soft and made up of several bony plates that have not yet fused together. This flexibility allows the baby's head to pass through the birth canal, but it also means the skull can be reshaped by pressure. When a baby spends a lot of time lying in the same position, or when there is pressure on the skull before or during birth, one area of the head can become flattened. This can cause the head to look uneven, with one side of the forehead or back of the skull appearing pushed forward or flat. Most cases of isolated plagiocephaly are positional (not caused by the skull bones fusing too early) and do not affect brain development. Treatment usually involves repositioning techniques, physical therapy, and sometimes a custom helmet or band. When caught early, the outlook is very good, and most children's heads round out significantly with treatment.
Key symptoms:
Flattening on one side or the back of the baby's headAsymmetrical head shape when viewed from aboveOne ear appearing further forward than the otherUneven forehead — one side may bulge slightlyFacial asymmetry, such as uneven cheeks or eye openingsBaby consistently turning head to one preferred sideTight neck muscles on one side (torticollis)Difficulty turning the head fully in both directions
Multifactorial
Caused by a mix of several genes and environmental factors
Neonatal
Begins at or shortly after birth (first 4 weeks)
FDA & Trial Timeline
2 eventsUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center — NA
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for OBSOLETE: Isolated plagiocephaly.
2 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Specialists
View all specialists →No specialists are currently listed for OBSOLETE: Isolated plagiocephaly.
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to OBSOLETE: Isolated plagiocephaly.
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Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
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Mental Health Support
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Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.Is my baby's flat head positional, or could it be caused by the skull bones fusing too early (craniosynostosis)?,Does my baby need a helmet, or can repositioning and physical therapy be enough?,At what age is helmet therapy most effective, and is my baby still in that window?,How do I know if the physical therapy exercises are working?,Will there be any lasting effects on my child's appearance or brain development?,How often do we need follow-up appointments to track progress?,Are there any signs I should watch for that would mean we need to come in sooner?
Common questions about OBSOLETE: Isolated plagiocephaly
What is OBSOLETE: Isolated plagiocephaly?
Isolated plagiocephaly — also called 'flat head syndrome' or positional plagiocephaly — is a condition where a baby's skull develops an asymmetrical or flattened shape. The word 'plagiocephaly' comes from Greek words meaning 'oblique head.' It is listed as 'obsolete' in some medical databases because it is now more precisely classified into subtypes, but the condition itself is still very real and commonly seen in infants. The skull of a newborn is soft and made up of several bony plates that have not yet fused together. This flexibility allows the baby's head to pass through the birth canal,
How is OBSOLETE: Isolated plagiocephaly inherited?
OBSOLETE: Isolated plagiocephaly follows a multifactorial inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does OBSOLETE: Isolated plagiocephaly typically begin?
Typical onset of OBSOLETE: Isolated plagiocephaly is neonatal. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for OBSOLETE: Isolated plagiocephaly?
Yes — 2 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for OBSOLETE: Isolated plagiocephaly on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.