Use of external orthotic helmet therapy in positional plagiocephaly

Key Points If preventive interventions are not effective, helmet therapy is the preferred treatment but must be initiated before 12 months of age. Positional plagiocephaly should be differentiated from craniosynostosis with ultrasound being helpful. Torticollis is a common cause of plagiocephaly.

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Complications associated with molding helmet therapy for positional plagiocephaly: a review

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/2013.5.focus13224 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. E3 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

William C. Gump ◽

Ian S. Mutchnick ◽

Thomas M. Moriarty

Keyword(s):

Adverse Events ◽

Clinical Experience ◽

Skin Irritation ◽

Large Degree ◽

Low Risk ◽

Outcome Studies ◽

Effective Strategy ◽

Positional Plagiocephaly ◽

Helmet Therapy

Molding helmet therapy is a widely accepted treatment for positional plagiocephaly that is generally considered to be low risk. Multiple large outcome studies have shown good results, but adverse events are rarely reported. The literature on helmet therapy was reviewed to clarify the clinical experience with associated complications. Although significant complications were extremely rare, there was a large degree of variability in detection of lesser problems such as minor skin irritation. Patients with a primarily brachycephalic morphology may be at higher risk for poorly fitting orthoses. Most reported complications are minor and self-limited. Maintenance of good helmet hygiene appears to be the most effective strategy for reducing or eliminating complications.

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Helmet therapy for positional plagiocephaly and brachycephaly

BMJ ◽

10.1136/bmj.g2906 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 348 (may01 8) ◽

pp. g2906-g2906 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

B. R. Collett

Keyword(s):

Positional Plagiocephaly ◽

Helmet Therapy

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Infant Cranial Deformity: Cranial Helmet Therapy or Physiotherapy?

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17072612 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (7) ◽

pp. 2612 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Josefa González-Santos ◽

Jerónimo J. González-Bernal ◽

Raquel De-la-Fuente Anuncibay ◽

Raúl Soto-Cámara ◽

Esther Cubo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Effective Treatment ◽

Prospective Cohort Study ◽

Functional Recovery ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Asymmetry Index ◽

Positional Plagiocephaly ◽

Developmental Quotient ◽

Helmet Therapy ◽

Cranial Deformity

Objective: To compare cranial helmet therapy (CHT) and physiotherapy (PT) for the effective treatment of positional plagiocephaly in infants in terms of improving functional recovery. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study involving 48 infants between 5–10 months of age with cranial deformities. The Cranial Vault Asymmetry Index (CVAI) and the Brunet–Lezine scale were calculated at the initiation of the study and after 40 treatment sessions. Results: The infants’ first assessment showed a delay in overall development areas with a global developmental quotient (DQ) (posture, coordination, sociability, and language) of 80.15. Although developmental improvements were observed in both groups in the Brunet–Lezine scale after treatment, the MANCOVA test showed no significant differences (F(5) = 0.82, p = 0.506, eta2 = 0.09). The CVAI reduced to 4.07% during the final evaluation in the cranial helmet group and 5.85% in the physiotherapy group without any significant differences between the two therapies (p = 0.70). Conclusions: No statistically significant differences were found between CHT and PT. After treatment, improvements from baseline measurements were observed in each of the readings of cranial deformity.

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