OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of postural correction training and helmet therapy in the treatment of moderate-severe positional head deformity defined as asymmetric head shape in infants.

METHODSA total of 31 infants who were diagnosed with moderate-severe plagiocephaly and/or brachiocephaly were enrolled. According to the different treatment methods, the infants were divided into helmet therapy group with 11 infants and postural correction training group with 20 infants. The cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI), cephalic ratio (CR), and head circumference growth were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSCompared with the postural correction training group, the helmet therapy group had significantly lower CVAI and CR after treatment. The helmet therapy group had significantly better improvements in CVAI and CR after treatment compared with the postural correction training group (CVAI difference: 6.0±1.9 vs 0.7±0.8, P=0.001; CR difference: 0.047±0.009 vs 0.008±0.005, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in head circumference growth between the two groups (P=0.55).

CONCLUSIONSHelmet therapy has a significantly better effect in the treatment of moderate-severe positional head deformity than postural correction training in infants. Helmet therapy does not limit head circumference growth.