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Brain Characteristics Noted Prior to and Following Cranial Orthotic Treatment
Michele DeGrazia1,2,3, Banu Ahtam2,3,4, Carolyn R Rogers-Vizena5,6
1Cardiovascular and Critical Care, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Insights
This study suggests a link between deformational plagiocephaly (DP) and altered brain development in infants. Cranial orthotic treatment showed improvements in brain structure and developmental delays.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Deformational Plagiocephaly (DP) is a common condition in infants.
- Potential associations between DP, brain structure, and developmental outcomes are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between severe DP, brain deformation, and developmental delay.
- To assess the impact of cranial orthotic treatment on these factors.
Main Methods:
- Case report involving two infants with severe DP undergoing cranial orthotic treatment.
- Utilized Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) for developmental assessment.
- Performed non-sedated brain MRI with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) before and after treatment.
Main Results:
- Pre-treatment MRI revealed white matter pathway alterations in both infants.
- Both infants exhibited low visual receptivity and fine motor skills.
- Post-treatment showed improved cranial asymmetry, normalized white matter pathways, and enhanced visual and motor skills.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary findings indicate a potential association between DP, altered brain structures, and developmental delays.
- Cranial orthotic treatment may positively influence neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with DP.
- Further research with larger cohorts is necessary to confirm these findings.
Objective:
This case report aims to assess a potential association between cranial asymmetry, brain deformation, and associated developmental delay.
Study Design:
Two infants born at ≥37 weeks pursuing cranial orthotic treatment for severe Deformational Plagiocephaly (DP) (cranial vault asymmetry index >8.75%) underwent developmental assessment using Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) and non-sedated brain structural and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to and following cranial orthotic treatment.
Results:
In both infants with DP, tractography results revealed alterations in the white matter pathways of the brain. Both infants also had low to low/normal visual receptivity and fine motor skills. After cranial orthotic treatment, cranial asymmetry improved but did not completely resolve, tractography demonstrated a change toward normalized white matter pathways, and visual receptivity and fine motor skills improved.
Conclusions:
These preliminary findings suggest a potential link between DP, altered brain structures, and developmental assessment. Further investigation with a larger sample is warranted.
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