Measuring for nonsynostotic head deformities in preterm infants during NICU management: A pilot study

Research has focused on the presence of nonsynostotic head deformities (NHD: plagiocephaly, dolichocephaly, brachycephaly) in preterm infants at discharge and within the first year after discharge. However, there is limited data on NHD in preterm neonates during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay. To acquire quantitative data on head shapes among preterm neonates during NICU hospital stay. Investigators performed weekly head measurements on 68 premature infants starting within two weeks of birth or when medically stable until discharge. Infants recruited for the study were born at