Cranial Orthosis Therapy for Plagiocephaly: an RCT Pilot Study Comparing Cranial Orthosis to the Natural Course

St. Justine's Hospital24 enrolled

Overview

Our study aims to assess the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial that investigates the efficacy of cranial orthosis therapy for treating severe deformational plagiocephaly in infants between 4 and 7 months old. The main question it aims to answer are: • Feasibility of conducting the study in our physiatry clinic. Participants will be randomized into two groups, receiving cranial orthosis at 1 week post initial visit, or the standard of care (7 weeks post initial visit). They will have head measurements and helmet adjustments as well as medical follow-up with a total of 4 visits. Post-treatment questionnaires will be filled out.

Our research endeavors to examine the feasibility of implementing a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that evaluates the efficacy of cranial orthosis therapy in addressing severe deformational plagiocephaly among infants aged 4 to 7 months. Primary Objective: The central focus is on evaluating the feasibility aspects associated with the RCT design within our clinical setting. Participants: Infants meeting the inclusion criteria will be recruited and randomized into two distinct groups: 1. Treatment Group: Receiving cranial orthosis therapy initiated one week post their initial physiatrist visit. 2. Control Group: Adhering to the standard of care, with cranial orthosis initiation at 7 weeks post their initial physiatrist visit. Study Procedures: Participants in both groups will undergo a structured series of assessments and interventions, including: * Head measurements and 3D-scan evaluations to quantify cranial deformities. * Helmet adjustments by experienced orthotists based on growth and changes in head shape. * Regular medical follow-ups, totaling four visits during the course of the study. Post-Treatment Assessments: Upon completion of the cranial orthosis therapy, participants will be required to fill out post-treatment questionnaires, providing valuable insights into their experiences, satisfaction levels, and any potential concerns

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 122 DaysMax age: 212 Days

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * All participants must be assessed by a physiatrist at Sainte-Justine Hospital at the plagiocephaly clinic of the physical medicine and rehabilitation service. * Participants must have a clinical diagnosis of severe deformational plagiocephaly by a physiatrist based on clinical evaluation and confirmed by anthropometric measurements with a spreading caliper and 3D-scan. * Participants must be aged from 4 months and 0 days to 7 months old minus a day at the onset of cranial orthosis therapy. Premature subjects will be age-adjusted by calculating the post-partum age minus the number of weeks of prematurity, rounding to the whole nearest month. * Participants' parents (or legal guardian) must be apt to give consent and able to reliably express themselves (either written or verbally, if illiterate or unable to write for any other reason). Exclusion Criteria: * Patients whose 3D-scan measurements do not confirm a severe plagiocephaly. * Participants who are lost at follow-up or who drop out of treatment will be excluded. * Participants whose parents report less than 20 hours per day on average of helmet wear. * Participants with synostotic cranial deformation. * Patients with isolated brachycephaly, without a plagiocephalic component to the deformation. * Patients with other craniofacial deformities or syndromes. * Patients having had their orthosis made or modified at a laboratory other than the Sainte-Justine hospital/Centre de réadaptation Marie-Enfant.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Qualitative information on Feasibility

documenting difficulties encountered during the pilot study, including but not limited to loss at follow-up, missed appointments, missing questionnaires, difficulties with enrollment, and coordination of appointments between the PM\&R service and the Orthotics clinic.

Time frame: through study completion, average of 12 weeks per patient

Secondary Outcomes

Cranial Vault Asymmetry (CVA)

The difference between the longest and shortest cranial diagonals, measured in millimeters.

Time frame: at week 0, week 6 and week 12

Cranial Vault Asymmetry Index (CVAI)

A percentage value that considers the overall size of the head in relation to CVA.

Time frame: at week 0, week 6 and week 12

Parental Satisfaction:

Measured with a parental questionnaire at the end of treatment, assessing satisfaction with head shape and cranial orthosis therapy.

Time frame: through completion of study, on average 12 weeks per patient

Adverse Effects:

Any adverse effects observed during cranial orthosis therapy will be collected from parental questionnaires and medical chart records.