Positional plagiocephaly: experience with a passive orthotic mattress

Area of Science:

• Pediatric orthopedics
• Craniofacial abnormalities
• Developmental pediatrics

Background:

• Positional plagiocephaly is the most common head shape deformity in infants.
• Management strategies focus on relieving pressure to encourage normalization of head shape through brain growth.
• Current treatments include repositioning techniques and helmet orthotics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document head shape changes in infants with positional plagiocephaly using a passive orthotic mattress.
• To assess the efficacy of a passive orthotic mattress in managing positional plagiocephaly.

Main Methods:

• A series of 30 patients with positional plagiocephaly were treated with a passive orthotic mattress.
• Cranial vault asymmetry was assessed before treatment and classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
• Treatment occurred between April 2008 and June 2010 at Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

Main Results:

• Follow-up assessments demonstrated a significant improvement in cranial vault asymmetry.
• The passive orthotic mattress was effective in improving head shape deformities.

Conclusions:

• Passive orthotic mattresses represent a viable treatment option for positional plagiocephaly.
• This intervention can lead to significant improvements in cranial vault asymmetry.
• Further research may explore long-term outcomes and comparisons with other treatment modalities.