What Is A Good Age To Do An Injectable Kryponite Cranioplasty For A Flat Spot On The back Of My Child’s Head?

Q: I have a son who is 5 almost 6. He has a flat spot on the back of his head due to sleeping in the same position as an infant. We were oblivious to the fact that our child’s head wasn’t perfect. Anyway we never got him a helmet and now he has a small flat spot on the back of his head. His pediatrition said that we were lucky because his flat spot is directly in the back of his skull so his head is still pretty symmetrical. His hair covers it for the most part–but I would love to be able to fix this flat spot for him. That way he can shave his head if he wants without fear of ridicule. Since he is only 6, and I have read that the skull continues to grow until you are 8, would it be best to wait until he is atleast 8 years old? Your advice please. Thank you!

A: A simple injectable cranioplasty approach is certainly appealing for cosmetic flat spots on  a child’s head. (occipital plagiocephaly) While I haven’t seen any photos of your son’s head, he seems like a reasonable candidate. The age at which to do it beyond 6 years of age is solely driven, in my opinion, by parental/patient desires. The skull’s growth cycle slows down appreciably by this age so whatever contour is obtained should simply grow with his remaining head growth without change. Remember that the implant material is sitting on top of the bone, not in it, so it is just being pushed out with the remaining skull  growth.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis Indiana