• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.47-52
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• 2014

Background: Management of positional plagiocephaly by wearing a cranial molding helmet has become a matter of growing medical interest. Some research studies reported that starting helmet therapy early (age 5 to 6 months) is important and leads to a significantly better outcome in a shorter treatment time. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cranial remodeling treatment with wearing helmet for older infants (${\geq}18$ months). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 27 infants with positional plagiocephaly without synostosis, who were started from 2008 to 2012. Every child underwent a computerized tomography (CT) before starting helmet therapy to exclude synostosis of the cranial sutures and had CT performed once again after satisfactory completion of therapy. Anthropometric measurements were taken on using spreading calipers in every child. The treatment effect was compared using cranial vault asymmetry (CVA) and the cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI), which were obtained from diagonal measurements before and after therapy. Results: The discrepancy of CVA and CVAI of all the patients significantly decreased after cranial molding helmet treatment in older infants (${\geq}18$ months) 7.6 mm from 15.6 mm to 8 mm and 4.51% from 9.42% to 4.91%. Six patients had confirmed successful outcome, and all subjects were good compliance patients. The treatment lasted an average of 16.4 months, was well tolerated, and had no complication. Additionally, the rate of the successful treatment (final CVA ${\leq}5mm$) significantly decreased when the wearing time per was shorter. Conclusion: This study showed that treatment by cranial remodeling orthosis was effective if the patient could wear the helmet longer and treatment duration was somewhat longer than in younger patients, well tolerated in older infants and had no morbidity. This therapeutic option is available and indicated in these older infants before other cranial remodeling surgery.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.443-450
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• 2022

This study developed a three-dimensional helmet mold design software that can design helmets for treating the infant plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) using three-dimensional head scan data. For this, the three-dimensional head data of sixth SizeKorea body measurement project as well as the data produced by a head modeling software were used to prepare the head shape data of plagiocephaly patients. A total of 14 landmarks and 10 dimensions of heads required for helmet mold shape design and plagiocephaly diagnosis were automatically measured using an anthropometric analysis software. Using the software developed in this study, plagiocephaly can be diagnosed not only visually by three-dimensional head data visualization but also quantitatively by calculating the medically defined indices such as cranial index, which measures the proportions of the head, and the cranial vault asymmetry index, which measures the asymmetry of the head. The basic shape of the helmet mold was automatically generated based on the head scan data. Additionally, it is possible to fine tune the shape of the mold to reflect individual characteristics by using a free form deformation technique. Finally, the designed helmet mold was converted into the data that can be printed on a three-dimensional printer for generating the actual prototype.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.338-344
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• 2012

Background It is known that nonsynostotic plagiocephaly does not spontaneously improve, and the craniofacial deformities that result from it. This study was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of helmet therapy for the nonsynostotic plagiocephaly patient, and to suggest a new treatment strategy based on this analysis. Methods A total of 108 pediatric patients who had undergone helmet therapy after being diagnosed with nonsynostotic plagiocephaly were included in this study. The patients were classified according to the initiation age of the helmet therapy, severity, and helmet wearing time. The treatment effect was compared using cranial vault asymmetry (CVA) and the cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI), which were obtained from diagonal measurements before and after therapy. Results The discrepancy of CVA and CVAI of all the patients significantly decreased after helmet therapy. According to the initiation time of helmet therapy, the treatment effect was best at 5 months old or less. The helmet wearing time per day was proportional to the treatment effect up to 20 hours. In addition, the rate of the successful treatment (final CVA ${\leq}$ 5 mm) significantly decreased when the initiation age was 9.1 months or older and the treatment period was less than 7.83 months. Conclusions This study showed the effectiveness of the helmet therapy for nonsynostotic plagiocephaly patients. Based on analysis of this study, helmet therapy should be started at the age of 9 months or younger for 7.83 months or more, and the helmet wearing time should be more than 20 hours a day.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.169-181
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• 2024

Background With the advent of cranial orthoses as therapeutic medical devices for the treatment of severe positional head deformities in Japan, an increasing number of patients are being treated with them. However, assessing the effectiveness of a treatment is often difficult due to the use of different metrics. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cranial orthoses for deformational plagiocephaly using two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) evaluation metrics. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of infant patients with deformational plagiocephaly who underwent cranial orthosis treatment. We evaluated the severity of deformational plagiocephaly using cranial asymmetry (CA) and the cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) as 2D metrics, and anterior and posterior symmetry ratios as 3D metrics. The patients were divided into 24 subgroups based on the initial severity of each outcome and their age at the start of treatment. We analyzed the changes in outcomes and correlations within improvements across the age and severity categories. Results Overall, 1,038 infants were included in this study. The mean CA, CVAI, and anterior and posterior symmetry ratios improved significantly after cranial orthosis treatment. The improvement in each score was greater in patients with more severe initial deformities and in those who underwent treatment at a younger age. Conclusion Cranial orthosis treatment was effective in correcting deformational plagiocephaly in infants, as demonstrated by improvements in both 2D and 3D metrics. Patients with more severe initial deformities and those who underwent treatment at a younger age showed greater improvement.