Screening for Torticollis and Plagiocephaly: The Role of the Pediatrician

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of providing a standardized screening examination to a group of attending and resident physicians on the rate of torticollis and plagiocephaly diagnoses, the age at time of diagnosis, and the attitudes and practice patterns of the physicians. All subjects were given a standardized screening procedure by verbal instruction and handout, and also completed a pre-­‐ and post-­‐intervention questionnaire, which assessed the practice regarding the diagnosis and management of torticollis and plagiocephaly. A retrospective chart review was conducted to ascertain the changes in frequency and mean age of patients diagnosed by subjects over the 6-­‐month intervention period compared to the previous 3 years. Pediatric residents reported significant increases in their frequency of diagnosing torticollis and plagiocephaly, their comfort level in screening for these diagnoses, and their frequency of referral to physical therapy for torticollis. Attending pediatricians reported significant increases in their diagnosis of plagiocephaly only. There was a significant increase in the percent of patients diagnosed with plagiocephaly at one of the six clinics during the intervention year. There was a significant decrease in the age at the time of diagnosis of torticollis patients at one of the six clinics during the intervention year