Re: new/Charalet & Carol

[Guest guest]

Charalet and Carol,

This is a good discussion point since associated health concerns are

of keen interest to me.

I would also like to point out that brachycephaly is technically

plagiocephaly on both sides; in other words, the head is deformed

forward and outward equally on both sides. Even though no facial

asymmetry has been manifested since both sides of the skull and face

appear the same, the orbital, ear, forehead, jaw, etc. areas have

been affected/moved with brachycephaly as they may have been with

plagiocephaly:

Skeletal Analysis of Craniofacial Deformities in Brachycephaly:

Comparison with Craniofacial Deformities in Plagiocephaly

The deformities of craniofacial bones in brachycephaly (n = 2) and

plagiocephaly (n = 2) were compared using three-dimensional skull

replicas. In brachycephaly the bilateral deformities of the cranial

base were similar to the unilateral deformities on the affected side

in plagiocephaly.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=11484526 & dopt=Abstract

All of the research on any health concerns associated with plagio

have been very recent (published just within the last few years,)

and aren't referenced in the AAP's Plagio release, which only

covered material published up until about 1999-2000. One study

specifically addresses brachycephaly concerns. Most of these

studies measured against a control group, general population, or

established measurement norms to reach their conclusions. The one

study that showed school-age problems in grade school has been cited

as a good study with appropriate methods/control group/size that

warranted follow-up. Recently the follow-up to that study was

shared with some plagio industry and research professionals at an

annual meeting, but unfortunately has not been made available to the

general public yet. I am anxiously awaiting that particular follow-

up! These studies use language such as:

" central sound processing, as reflected by ERPs, is affected in

children with plagiocephaly "

" Infants with deformational plagiocephaly comprise a high-risk group

for developmental difficulties presenting as subtle problems of

cerebral dysfunction during the school-age years "

" 0 percent of the subjects in the group with plagiocephaly without

synostosis were accelerated, 67 percent were normal, 20 percent had

mild delay, and 13 percent had significant delay "

" Children with deformational plagiocephaly do have an increased

prevalence of astigmatism "

" We conclude that brachycephaly is associated with an increased AHI

(Apnea Hypopnia Index) "

" Our study demonstrates a notable incidence of visual field

constriction in patients with Positional Plagiocephaly "

Etc.

I would very much like to see these results duplicated in further

studies to help evaluate their meaningfulness. When I come across

new studies, I'll post to the group when I add the link. I haven't

heard of any plagio babies here at the group having the problems

mentioned in the above studies that have been specifically connected

to plagio. Perhaps subsequent studies will shed light on the

validity of these earlier conclusions, or flesh out the degree of

severity required before problems like these manifest themselves.

One area of frustration is that the health concerns cover a wide

swath of specialties, and I have no idea how much communication or

cooperation will occur in pulling this information together.

Also, I see migraines and TMJ oft-mentioned as a possible health

concern associated with plagio. Although I have seen this mentioned

in papers and discussions, I can not find the actual study that

concluded either of these as a risk. Do they mean that mandibular

(jaw) asymmetry can possibly lead to TMJ which can cause migraines?

I hope the group graduates will continue to stay in touch with the

message board to keep us apprised on any health concerns with plagio!

Thanks again for the great topic thread,

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

> > > Thanks for the great info. My 3mo has Plagio/Tort. Right

now

> we

> > are

> > > doing Repo and PT. What happens if this goes untreated?

> > > Kirsten

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > For more plagio info