All issues > Volume 23(8); 1980

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1980;23(8):603-629. Published online August 15, 1980.

Study for the Process of Brachycephalization of Infant Skull.

Ki Dae Choi

¹Choi Pediatric Clinic, Busan, Korea.

Abstract

It has been known that Korean adults have brachycephalus in their skull shape as compared with neighboring orientals. However, there is no difference between Korean newborn infants and other oriental newborn infants in skull shape. Acquired factors seem to be more important than hereditary factors as a possible cause of brachycephalus in Korean adults. In order to study the process of brachycephalization in the skull shape, I measured head girth, head length, head width and cephalic index. Those results were divided into three categories, namely, feeding, period of ingestion of undaria pinnatifida (sea weed) soup and sleep posture. 1) I studied 1,371 newborn infants who were born in th busan Maternity baby health center and 1,521 newborn infants in the Daegu maternity baby health center from June 1,1976 to may 31,1977. In Busan group, average weight of male newborn was 3.45kg, headgirth34.31cm, head length 11.68cm, head width 9.57cm. and cephalic index 82.02. Average weight of female newborn was 3.34kg, head girth 33.79cm, head length11.54cm, head width 9.44cm. and cephalic index 81.96. In Daegu group, average weight of male newborn was 3.28kg, head girth 34.65cm,head length 11.85cm, head width 9.50cm. and cephalic index 80.31. Average weight of female newborn was 3.18kg., head girth 34.08cm., headlength11.62cm., head width 9.38cm. and cephalic index 80.81. There was statistically significant difference in each item (p<0.01) 2) It was also studied in the order of delivery in the family. In Busan group, first baby was 43.5%, second baby 38.8% and sum of first and second baby was 82.3%. In Daegu group, first baby was 47.2%, second baby was 30.3% and sum of first and second baby was 77.5%. 3) I studied 1,686 male and 1,175 female from one to twelve month olds who visited my clinic for check up and vaccination from January 1,1976 to March 31,1978. Head girth, head length and head width were measured 3,660 times for male and 2,607 times for female. 4) Feeding was divided into breast feeding, Mixed feeding and artificial feeding. Period of maternal ingestion of sea weed soup were one, two, three and four weeks. Sleep postures were supine, lateral and prone position. Occipital protuberance that is not in the middline was divided into right or left occipital protuberance. 5) There were neither significant differences in head girth, head length, head width and cephalic index between breast, mixed and artificial feeding nor period of maternal ingestion of seaweed soup. 6) There was either significant difference in the cephalic index between supine and lateral position or supine and prone position. 7) Among 2,861 infants, breast feeding was 75.0%, mixed feeding 15.1% and artificial feeding 9.9%. Occipital protuberance that is not in the midline was 59.3%, left occipital protuberance 27.1% and right occipital protuberance 32.2%. 8) Occipital protuberance that is not in the midline was 70.5% in the supine position, 24.6% in the lateral position and 0.0% in the prone position. There were significant differences among them. 9) Period of maternal ingestion of seaweed soup were one week 10.4%, two weeks 28.0%, three weeks 33.0% and four weeks 28.6%.

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