Positional Plagiocephaly vs Lambdoid Craniosynostosis
Carousel1 min read·Published Oct 2026

Positional Plagiocephaly vs Lambdoid Craniosynostosis

Educational slide comparing two infant head images to distinguish positional plagiocephaly from lambdoid craniosynostosis.
Comparison of ear position in positional flattening versus lambdoid synostosis with infant head diagrams.
Quote slide explaining ear height is normal in positional plagiocephaly, attributed to Dr. Jesse Skoch.
Diagram comparing parallelogram head shape in positional plagiocephaly versus trapezoid shape in lambdoid synostosis.
Slide comparing treatment paths for positional flattening versus craniosynostosis in infants.
Slide listing clinical indicators for craniofacial referral based on ear position and head shape.
Two infant skull illustrations comparing positional plagiocephaly versus craniosynostosis with fused suture.
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Carousel · Oct 2026 · 1 min read

In brief

In brief

Educational carousel comparing positional plagiocephaly with lambdoid craniosynostosis. Reviews clinical and radiographic features to distinguish benign positional skull flattening from true suture fusion requiring surgical intervention.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the carousel.

Slides

7 pages · click to turn to one
Craniofacial — craniosynostosis. A social-media carousel made possible by Cincinnati Children's.
The text on each slide
  1. Craniofacial | Clinical Foundations | Made possible by Cincinnati Children's | Two 4-month-olds have a flat spot on the back of the head. One is positional. One has a fused lambdoid suture. | CAN YOU TELL WHICH IS WHICH? | A. | B. | 1/7
  2. Craniofacial | Clinical Foundations | Made possible by Cincinnati Children's | SPECIFIC FINDING #1: THE EARS | POSITIONAL | Positional flattening moves the ears forward on the flat side. It doesn't typically change the height. | FUSED SUTURE | Lambdoid synostosis is one type of fused suture. It almost always pushes the ear back and down on the affected side. | 2/7
  3. Craniofacial | Clinical Foundations | Made possible by Cincinnati Children's | The ear height is typically not abnormal with a positional plagiocephaly. | Jesse Skoch, MD, FAANS, FACS | Faculty Neurosurgeon, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Associate Professor, UC Department of Neurosurgery, Cincinnati Children's | 3/7
  4. Craniofacial | Clinical Foundations | Made possible by Cincinnati Children's | SPECIFIC FINDING #2: THE OUTLINE | PARALLELOGRAM (POSITIONAL) | The whole head shifts into a parallelogram. The forehead comes forward on the flat side. | TRAPEZOID (LAMBDOID SYNOSTOSIS) | The back of the head slants off to one side, a windswept look, as if a thumb pushed it sideways. | 4/7
  5. Craniofacial | Clinical Foundations | Made possible by Cincinnati Children's | WHY THE DIFFERENCE MATTERS | TWO DIFFERENT PATHS | Positional flattening is managed with repositioning and, when needed, a molding helmet. | A fused suture needs a craniofacial referral, not a helmet. | The helmet window and synostosis surgery are both age-dependent. | 5/7
  6. Craniofacial | Clinical Foundations | Made possible by Cincinnati Children's | WHAT TO REMEMBER | Check whether the ears sit level. If level, think positional. | A dropped ear is worth a referral, however mild the flattening looks. | A windswept back of the head also indicates a referral. | 6/7
  7. Craniofacial | Clinical Foundations | Made possible by Cincinnati Children's | ANSWER TO SLIDE #1 | A. | B. | A.) Positional | B.) Fused suture | 7/7
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