Non-invasive treatment of plagiocephaly with the use of corrective helmets in infants

Abstract

The use of skull correction is controversial, and treatment recommendations and reporting of results vary. The most commonly observed deformities of the skull are: plagiocephaly, brachycephaly and scaphocephaly. Treatment includes repositioning, physical therapy, and orthotic treatment with an adapted cranial remoulding orthosis (CRO). Positional plagiocephaly should be differentiated from torticollis, which is also one of the main causes of this deformity. Cranial remoulding orthosis yields better and faster results in younger patients, with age the degree of correction slows down with age. CRO is most effective when initiated before the 5th month of age. Apart from positioning therapy, physiotherapy and the use of a CRO shortens the treatment time and improves the results in severe cases of head asymmetry.