A Specially Designed Pillow Can Decrease Developmental Plagiocephaly in Young Infants

Abstract

Developmental plagiocephaly (DP) has been an increasing problem since the successful “back to sleep campaign”. The referrals for DP have increased by more than 400% during the years 2004 to 2008. Many infants spend less time in the prone position nowadays and some of the risk factors for DP are: tummy time less than 3 times per day, torticollis and slow achievement of motor milestones. Improved information for the parents is needed but also other strategies to prevent DP. This study is a continuum of an earlier pilot study; the aim was to investigate the effect of a pillow, designed to reduce pressure on the infant head. Method: Infants aged zero to two months were included in the study. They were randomized to either intervention group or control group. Head shape was investigated on two occasions, on the second occasion motor development, mobility and muscle function of the neck were also investigated. The parents were asked about tummy time and sleep position. All infants were investigated by the same physical therapist, blinded to group belonging. Result: Fishers exact test showed that it was more common with decreased CVAI among infants in the intervention group (P 0.001). Paired t test showed significant decrease in CVAI for the intervention group (P 0.002), but not for the control group (P 0.96). Conclusion: This study shows that a specially designed pillow can decrease DP in young infants.