Q&A: What can I do about torticollis and plagiocephaly?

by Dr. Karen Sadler

My son was diagnosed with Torticollis and Plagiocephaly at 6 weeks old. He has been having physio for the torticollis and has improved vastly, but he has still got the plagio. He had x-rays last week (he is now 4 1/2 months old) and the sutures are open and the pediatrician says that the flattening is within the normal variant. We are still not convinced and we cannot get another opinion here in Zambia. We are British citizens residing in Zambia and we can get treatment in either South Africa or the UK but we don't know where to start. I can only find any information on this condition in the US, which is well outside of our way and means. I have taken photographs which I could e-mail as an attachment, which would say whether the plagio is mild or severe. I would not want my child suffering in later years as a result of this so I would like to get this treated asap.

The best way I can help you with this question (and you have every right to get enough information for peace of mind) is to send you to the web site of Children's Hospital, Boston. The hospital has a fantastic reputation and it's plastic surgery program is among the world's best. Log onto www.childrenshospital.org. From there, the clinical information option has a section on plagiocephaly. Clicking into the departments section will give you contact info about the various surgical subspecialties, including the craniofacial anomalies program. Dr. John Mullikin works in this program, and is a very talented surgeon. While I don't know him personally, you can use the contacts offered in this web site to hopefully get the information you need.

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