The Evaluation and Management of Infant Head Shape Abnormalities

Mark Proctor, MD

Neurosurgeon-in-Chief; Director, Brain Injury Center

Professor, Harvard Medical School

In this presentation, Dr. Mark Proctor explains the anatomy of skull development and the common causes of cranial deformity. Furthermore, Dr. Proctor determines how to diagnose cranial deformity on physical exam, and distinguishes deformational plagiocephaly from craniosynostosis. Dr. Proctor also describes when to treat patients, the benefits of treatment, and when to send a child to see a specialist. The presentation was recorded at the Shamberger’s Frontiers in Pediatric Surgery Conference on March 8, 2023.

Learning Objectives: 

At the conclusion of this educational program, learners will be able to:

1. Understand the anatomy of skull development and the common causes of cranial deformity.
2. Determine how to diagnose cranial deformity on physical exam, and distinguish deformational plagiocephaly from craniosynostosis.
3. Understand when to treat, and the benefits of treatment.
4. Know when to send the child to see a specialist.

In support of improving patient care, Boston Children’s Hospital is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians

Boston Children’s Hospital designates this live activity for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.

Physician Assistant

Boston Children’s Hospital designates this live activity for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.

Physician Assistants
Boston Children’s Hospital has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credits for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 0.75 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Nurse

Boston Children’s Hospital designates this activity for 0.75 contact hours for nurses. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosures

Boston Children’s Hospital adheres to all ACCME Essential Areas, Standards, and Policies. It is Boston Children’s policy that those who have influenced the content of a CME activity (e.g. planners, faculty, authors, reviewers and others) disclose all relevant financial relationships with commercial entities so that Boston Children’s may identify and resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. These disclosures will be provided in the activity materials along with disclosure of any commercial support received for the activity. Additionally, faculty members have been instructed to disclose any limitations of data and unlabeled or investigational uses of products during their presentations.

The following planners, speakers, and content reviewers, on behalf of themselves, have reported the following relevant financial relationships with any entity producing, marketing, reselling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on patients: 

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