Abstract
The marked narrowing of the head which develops in many preterm infants often causes concern to their parents, who may worry that the unusual shape will persist or that it may be associated with intracranial pathology and developmental delay. The biparietal (BP) and anteroposterior (AP) diameters were measured weekly in 203 preterm infants during their stay in NICU, and at regular intervals up to three years of age. The AP/BP ratio was calculated (Baum J D and Searls D, Dev Med and Child Neurol. 1971 13: 576-581). This ratio rose from a mean of 1.36 in the first week to a mean of 1.48 at six weeks and fell to a mean of 1.42 by 13 weeks. Less mature babies and those with lower birth weights showed more flattening but this was not statistically significant. The presence of intracranial pathology detected by ultrasound did not affect head shape. 11% of babies showed marked early flattening (AP/BP ratio 1.55). These were compared with the rest of the group. At three years there was no significant difference in AP/BP ratio or in Griffiths Development Quotient. We conclude that by the age of 3 years the babies showing very marked early head flattening did not differ from the rest of the cohort in the areas examined.
(NICU = Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
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Elliman, A., Bryan, E., Elliman, A. et al. HEAD NARROWING IN PRETERM INFANTS. Pediatr Res 19, 1088 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198510000-00121
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198510000-00121
