Risk factors associated with positional plagiocephaly in healthy Iranian infants: a case-control study

OBJECTIVES: Deformation of the skull by external forces in the absence of synostosis has been defined as positional plagiocephaly (PP). The aim of this investigation was to determine the risk factors of PP in healthy Iranian infants. MATERIALS & METHODS: This case-control study was performed on 300 healthy Iranian infants aged 8-12 weeks who were referred to the pediatric neurology clinic at Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Kashan. Plagiocephaly evaluations were done using Argenta’s scale. RESULTS: Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis, there was a significant association between PP and male gender (OR=2.26; P=0.002), head circumference (OR=1.22; P=0.006), multiple pregnancy (OR=2.55; P=0.03), abnormal presentation in uterine (OR=2.18; P=0.02), primiparity (OR=2.43; P=0.003), and supine sleep position (OR=2.97; P<0.001). However, type of delivery, firmness of headrest, oligohydramnios, and prolonged labor were not correlated with PP. CONCLUSIONS: The current investigation supports the idea that head circumference, male gender, primiparity, multiple pregnancy, supine sleep position, and abnormal presentation in the uterine are correlated with a greater incidence of PP. Further investigations should be undertaken to understand PP and its related risk factors fully.