Ursache und Diagnostik der lagebedingten Plagiozephalie

Denominator of Cranial Vault Asymmetry Index: Choosing Between Longer and Shorter Diagonal Lengths

Since it was proposed in this journal in 2001, the cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) has been an important parameter for assessing cranial shape. However, different publications currently use different variables in the denominator of the CVAI formula. We thus investigated the use of long and short diagonal lengths as variables in the denominator of the CVAI formula. We searched the databases of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus for articles published between 2016 and 2022 that cited the original work article of CVAI. Articles were included if they were written in English and if the denominator of the CVAI formula was specified. For multiple articles by the same author, only the most recent article was included. In total, 30 articles were included; 10 articles used the longer diagonal length as the denominator and 20 articles used the shorter diagonal length. No uniform trend was observed by a country or journal of publication. Application of the CVAI formula using different denominators yielded interchangeable results, and the resulting values had only negligible differences clinically. However, it would be necessary to create a standard formula for using the CVAI as a parameter for reporting cranial shape assessments consistently.

Cranial Shape Measurements Obtained Using a Caliper and Elastic Bands Are Useful for Brachycephaly and Deformational Plagiocephaly Screening

We assessed a method for screening the cranial shape of 1-month-old infants using a simple measuring instrument instead of a three-dimensional scanner. The Mimos craniometer was used to measure cranial length, cranial width, and two diagonal lengths to calculate the cranial index (CI) and cranial asymmetry (CA). We defined a CI > 90% as brachycephaly and CA > 5 mm as deformational plagiocephaly (DP). Intra- and inter-examiner accuracy analyses were performed on a dummy doll and 1-month-old infants. The measurements of healthy 1-month-old infants were compared with previously reported three-dimensional scanner measurements. Intra- and inter-rater measurements showed good accuracy; diagnostic accuracy comparisons of brachycephaly and DP using a three-dimensional scanner showed kappa values of 1.0 and 0.8, respectively. Comparisons were made among 113 infants matched for day-age at the date of measurement; there were no significant differences in the CI (85.0% vs. 85.2%, p = 0.98) and CA (5.9 mm vs. 6.0 mm, p = 0.48) between the scanner and caliper measurements, nor in the prevalence of brachycephaly (12.4% vs. 17.7%, p = 0.35) or DP (58.4% vs. 56.6%, p = 0.89). This simple measurement method using calipers and bands was useful in screening for brachycephaly and DP in 1-month-old infants.

Prevalence and severity of positional plagiocephaly in children and adolescents

OBJECT

Though positional posterior plagiocephaly (PPP) is considered common in infants since the pediatric recommendations of "Back to Sleep", several aspects of its natural history still remain unclear. The aim of this study is to understand the actual prevalence and severity of PPP in children and adolescents.

METHODS

Head CT scans performed for head trauma during the period September 2016-September 2017 were retrospectively analyzed in a total of 165 children ranging from 0 to 18 years of age (101 boys). Cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) was calculated at the level of the superior orbital rim. CVAI values greater 3.5% was considered index of asymmetry. The results were analyzed according to different age groups: group I: 1 month to 1 year of age (37 children), group II: 2 to 4 years (32 children), group III: 5 to 8 years (36 children), group IV: 9 to 12 years (27 children), and group V: 13 to 18 years (33 children) and the severity of asymmetry according to CVAI values: mild group (CVAI range 3.5-7%), moderate group (CVAI range 7-12%), and severe group (CVAI > 12%).

RESULT

The total prevalence of PPP in the 165 children was 25%. While the prevalence in infants of group I was estimated to be 40.5%, it was 15.6% in group II, 30.5% in group III, 18.5% in group IV, and 12% in group V. The mean and maximum degrees of deformation were 3.5% and 15.1%, respectively. Most children had a mild asymmetry. One child (group II) presented a severe asymmetry. The degree of the asymmetry varied according to the groups but moderate asymmetry could be found at all ages even in groups IV and V.

CONCLUSION

This study analyzing PPP in an unselected unbiased pediatric population shows that PPP has a high prevalence in adolescents. It confirms that the prevalence of deformational plagiocephaly is more common than usually reported and that PPP may persist at a late age.

Therapy effects of head orthoses in positional plagiocephaly

PURPOSE

Head orthoses offer a valuable therapeutic option for infants with positional plagiocephaly. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the influence of therapy start and duration due to improvement of cranial asymmetry.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 102 children during the years 2009-2014 were included. The patient cohort was divided according to age at the beginning of therapy (younger/older than 7.5 months) and duration (less/more than 150 days). To evaluate the therapy, ear shift (ES), Cranial Vault Asymmetry Index (CVAI), and Cranial Index (CI) were calculated pre- and post-therapy by using three-dimensional photogrammetry measurements.

RESULTS

Treatment with head orthoses led to a significant reduction of CVAI in groups with less and more than 150 days of therapy (p < 0.0001). A significant reduction in CVAI was observed (p = 0.0235) in children younger than 7.5 months in short-term therapy. At the end of therapy, no significant difference was found in the groups, whether treated with short- or long-term head orthoses (p = 0.0813), although CVAI was significantly different comparing the third time point of both groups for treatment duration (p = 0.017). The major positive effect of helmet therapy has been seen after 75 days of treatment. A treatment that was longer than 150 days did not show any significant improvement concerning the cranial asymmetry.

CONCLUSIONS

Helmet therapy is a reliable method in the treatment of positional plagiocephaly to improve cephalic asymmetries. This retrospective study indicates that an early beginning can lead to satisfying results after short-term therapy.

[Correction of pronounced plagiocephaly with orthosis : results of a prospective follow-up control]

For the treatment of pronounced deformational plagiocephaly in infants different therapeutic options are under discussion in the literature. This article presents a prospective observational study of 45 infants enrolled with distinct plagiocephaly and treated with a custom-made helmet orthosis. Treatment with the helmet orthosis was indicated by a difference in the skull diagonals of more than 0.5 cm or a cranial vault asymmetry (CVA) index > 3.5. The follow-up results were controlled with the help of a mobile spatial laser scanner and the CVA index and the skull deformity were measured. The average duration of treatment was 131 days. The CVA index improved from 9.95 to a normal value of 3.35 (median) and the skull deformity improved from 1.3 cm to 0.5 cm (median). The only side effects observed were easily treatable pressure marks. The results of this study reveal that pronounced deformational plagiocephaly can be successfully treated with a custom-made helmet orthosis and closely controlled monitoring.