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Updated: Jul 29, 2026
A Test Bed to Examine Helmet Fit and Retention and Biomechanical Measures of Head and Neck Injury in Simulated Impact
Published on: September 21, 2017
[Plagiocephaly in children: etiology, differential diagnosis and helmet treatment]
A Margulis1, V Hatuel, A Weinberg
1Dept. of Plastic Surgery, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem.
Insights
Deformational plagiocephaly, a common cause of infant head asymmetry, significantly improves with custom helmet therapy. This non-surgical approach avoids unnecessary interventions for positional molding.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Craniofacial Development
- Medical Device Technology
Context:
- Plagiocephaly affects at least 1 in 300 live births, often resulting from deformational forces rather than suture synostosis.
- Accurate diagnosis differentiating synostotic from deformational plagiocephaly is crucial for appropriate treatment.
- Positional molding is a common cause of cranial asymmetry in infants.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy of custom plastic helmets in treating deformational plagiocephaly.
- To highlight the importance of distinguishing deformational plagiocephaly from synostotic plagiocephaly.
- To underscore the benefits of non-surgical interventions for positional molding.
Summary:
- This study treated 10 infants with significant deformational plagiocephaly using custom plastic helmets, with 4 additional infants currently undergoing treatment.
- Cranial asymmetry showed dramatic improvement in all treated infants as their brains grew and heads conformed to the helmets.
- No significant complications were reported during the treatment period.
Impact:
- Increased awareness and accurate diagnosis of deformational plagiocephaly can prevent unnecessary surgical interventions.
- Helmet therapy offers an effective, non-surgical solution for positional molding and cranial asymmetry.
- This approach ensures appropriate management, leading to improved outcomes for infants with plagiocephaly.
Abstract:
Plagiocephaly in a head-and-neck irradiated rat model or rhomboid-shaped head, occurs in at least 1 in 300 live births. In most cases such asymmetry is not caused by synostosis of the unilateral coronal or lambdoid sutures, but is rather a deformity produced by intrauterine and/or postnatal deformational forces. Categorization and diagnosis of plagiocephaly as synostotic or deformational is reliably made by physical examination and computerized tomography. Its differential diagnosis is extremely important because prompt surgical correction is usually indicated for the synostotic type. In contrast, infants with deformational frontal or occipital plagiocephaly generally respond to helmet treatment. 10 infants with significant deformational plagiocephaly were treated with individual plastic helmets during the past 2 years and 4 other infants with plagiocephaly are currently being treated. In each instance, cranial asymmetry dramatically improved as the brain grew and the head filled out the helmet. There were no significant complications. Awareness of deformational plagiocephaly allows more accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, avoiding unnecessary surgical intervention in patients with positional molding.
