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Clinical profile and evolution of infants with deformational plagiocephaly included in a conservative treatment
I Cabrera-Martos1, M C Valenza, A Benítez-Feliponi
1Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Av de Madrid SN, 18071, Granada, Spain.
Insights
This study shows physiotherapy effectively treats infant plagiocephaly. Infant head shape severity impacts motor skill development, requiring tailored interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric physiotherapy
- Infant development
- Craniofacial abnormalities
Background:
- Plagiocephaly is a common condition in infants.
- Early intervention is crucial for optimal outcomes.
- Understanding clinical profiles aids treatment planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a conservative physiotherapy intervention for infant plagiocephaly.
- To assess treatment outcomes based on individual clinical profiles.
- To determine the impact of plagiocephaly severity on motor development.
Main Methods:
- Prospective clinical trial involving 104 infants with plagiocephaly.
- Infants categorized by severity and underwent a physiotherapy protocol.
- Comprehensive assessments included parental history, infant anthropometrics, positional assessment, and motor development evaluation.
Main Results:
- Physiotherapy protocol demonstrated effectiveness in correcting plagiocephaly.
- Infants with severe plagiocephaly experienced longer treatment durations and higher helmet use.
- Significant differences in gross motor skill acquisition were observed based on plagiocephaly severity (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- The described physiotherapy protocol is effective for treating infant plagiocephaly.
- Plagiocephaly severity is a key factor influencing gross motor skill development.
- Clinical profiling is essential for optimizing intervention strategies and developmental support.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of a conservative intervention in infants with plagiocephaly according to their specific clinical profile.
Methods:
Prospective clinical trial in which 104 infants with plagiocephaly accompanied or not by congenital or positional torticollis were referred to Early Care and Monitoring Unit (USAT) of San Cecilio Hospital in Granada, between 2009 and 2012. All the infants, grouped into three categories of severity, were included in the physiotherapy protocol until adequate craniofacial morphology and motor development were achieved. The study included an assessment of parents and infants. Parents were assessed with a questionnaire about the mother's medical history and birth-related issues. The assessment of infants included anthropometric measures, a positional assessment, the observation of the head, the assessment of severity, and motor development.
Results:
Birth characteristics were similar in the total sample but showed different clinical profiles according to treatment aspects. More specifically, infants with severe plagiocephaly were referred to treatment later and spent more time in treatment; use of an orthotic helmet was also more prevalent in this category. There were also significant differences (P < 0.05) in the acquisition of specific gross motor skills depending on the severity of plagiocephaly.
Conclusion:
The findings suggest that the physiotherapy protocol presented is effective to correct plagiocephaly. Severity of plagiocephaly is a marker that should be taken into account when designing actions aimed at improving gross motor skill development.
