Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Cleveland Birth Injury Attorney: Earlier Helmet Therapy Reduces Infant Skull Flattening

It’s promising news for any clients of our birth injury attorney in Cleveland whose child suffers from skull flattening. A recent study has found that starting helmet therapy earlier produces better results.

The  study was published in the August issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

The study analyzed the results of helmet (molding orthosis) therapy on 144 infants. The babies were divided into groups based on age at starting helmet therapy (before 24 weeks, between 24 and 32 weeks and 32 weeks or later) and severity of plagiocephaly (mild-to-moderate or moderate-to-severe).

The journal reports:

“Helmet therapy reduced skull flattening in all three age groups but was more effective when treatment was started at younger ages. Among  infants with mild-to-moderate plagiocephaly, helmet therapy was rated successful in 83 percent of those who started before 24 weeks. The success rate decreased to 69 percent for infants starting treatment between 24 and 32 weeks and 40 percent when treatment was started at 32 weeks or later.

Younger age at treatment also led to a higher success rate for infants with moderate-to-severe plagiocephaly: 50 percent, 30 percent and seven percent, respectively. The duration of helmet therapy was about 19 weeks for infants with early treatment versus 25 weeks for those with later treatment.”

Age and duration had a big effect.

“The present study shows that age at the start of treatment and positional plagiocephaly severity affect the duration and effectiveness of helmet therapy,” according to the report by Felix Kunz, DMD, of University Hospital Würzburg, Germany, and colleagues. “These two factors are important predictors on the results of helmet therapy for position-related skull flattening.”

As our birth injury attorneys in Cleveland point out, time is on your side the earlier you take action.