Helmet Therapy for Deformational Plagiocephaly: Clinical Outcomes and Considerations

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Craniofacial Abnormalities
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Deformational plagiocephaly (DP) involves asymmetrical flattening of an infant's occipital skull.
• Helmet therapy aims to correct DP by guiding cranial growth.
• Existing literature shows variability in helmet therapy effectiveness due to inconsistent protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical outcomes of helmet therapy for infants diagnosed with deformational plagiocephaly.
• To assess the impact of treatment duration and compliance on DP correction.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 30 infants (mean age 7.83 months) with DP (CVAI ≥ 5%) treated at a tertiary university hospital.
• Helmet therapy prescribed for a mean duration of 3.77 months.
• Primary outcome measured was the change in Cranial Vault Asymmetry Index (CVAI).

Main Results:

• Mean CVAI significantly decreased from 7.57% to 6.10% (p = 0.002), indicating effective skull shape correction.
• Helmet therapy effectiveness demonstrated a dose-dependent relationship, with >6 hours/day use showing greater improvement.
• Higher compliance and nighttime use correlated with better outcomes; increased sweating and mild skin redness were common, manageable side effects.

Conclusions:

• Helmet therapy is an effective treatment for infant deformational plagiocephaly when initiated early and adhered to consistently.
• Optimal results are achieved with high compliance, particularly with extended daily wear and during sleep.
• Further multi-center research with larger cohorts and extended follow-up is warranted to solidify findings.