Affordable Helmets Offer Effective Solution for Infant Flattened Head Syndrome

Study Presented at American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting

For Immediate Release: October 10, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO – Less expensive helmet therapy may provide a better alternative to correct positional head deformity in children, according to a study presented today at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2006 conference in San Francisco.

“Head flattening has become a common problem that can be costly to correct,” said Lisa David, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and study co-author. “The deformity occurs when an infant sleeps in the same position frequently and can be corrected through counter positioning techniques, corrective helmets, or both. We’ve found that parents who use prefabricated, adjustable helmets are able to successfully treat their children’s deformity without the high cost of custom made helmets.”

Custom made helmets cost up to $3,000. It’s a price many families can not afford plus the cost of weekly doctor’s visits necessary to remold and reshape the helmets. Some insurance companies may cover the cost, however, many do not and families often don’t know if they are covered until after submitting the expense.

Prefabricated, adjustable helmets, which cost approximately $600, are more affordable and equally adjustable. These helmets remove pressure from the flattened area rather than forcing the skull back into shape. A bump maybe located on the side of the helmet near the deformity to force the child to sleep on the other side of its head.

In the study, 1445 infants were treated with prefabricated, adjustable helmets. Their deformity was corrected in 5.4 months on average – the same length of treatment for custom made helmets. Parents who ensured their infant wore the helmet for the requested amount of time experienced marked improvement in their infant’s condition. The more compliant a parent was, the more successful the treatment was for the child.

“Head flattening is not just an aesthetic issue,” said Dr. David. “When you have a flattening of the head, it affects how the entire skull will grow, even pushing the forehead, cheek and jaw forward. It is best for parents to speak with a craniofacial plastic surgeon to correct the problem between the ages of 4 and 8 months.”

Visit www.plasticsurgery.org, for referrals to ASPS Member Surgeons and to learn more about cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.

Note: “Outcome Analysis of the Treatment of Severe Positional Plagiocephaly with Passive Helmet Therapy” is being presented Tuesday, Oct. 10, 7:00 a.m., at the Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco. Reporters can register to attend Plastic Surgery 2006 and arrange interviews with presenters by logging on to www.plasticsurgery.org or by contacting ASPS Public Relations at (847) 228-9900 or in San Francisco, Oct. 7-11 at (415) 905-1730.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 6,000 members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises 90 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.