What does a normal physical examination of the head not indicate?

A normal physical examination of the head implies that all standard findings align with what is considered typical or healthy. One of the indicators of a normal examination is the absence of edema, which refers to swelling caused by excess fluid. When assessing the head, the presence of edema would suggest some form of pathology or injury, making it inconsistent with a normal examination.

In contrast, atraumatic findings, normocephalic shape, and absence of distress are all consistent with a normal head examination. Atraumatic findings indicate that there is no evidence of trauma, while normocephalic refers to a head that is of normal shape and size. An absence of distress shows that the patient is not in acute discomfort, which further supports the conclusion of a normal examination. Therefore, the correct choice highlights that the existence of edema contradicts the concept of a normal physical examination of the head.