Cranial Orthotic Device Versus Repositioning Techniques for the Management of Plagiocephaly: the CRANIO Randomized Trial

This is a prospective randomized controlled trial with the goal of recruiting 226 participants. The participants will be between the ages of 4-7 months and will be randomized into two groups: Treatment group A, which will provide treatment using cranial orthotic devices (CODs) ; and Treatment group B, which will provide treatment using repositional techniques and neck stretching exercises. These participants will be offered enrollment if they have deformational molding with CVA greater than 6 mm and/or CI> 90%.

Asymmetric plagiocephaly is defined by cranial vault index (CVA). CVA is the difference between two diagonal cranial diameters (CVA= Longer diagonal-shorter diagonal). Cranial diameters are measured from orbitale superius suture to orbitale superius rear (see Appendix 1). Normal CVA is <6mm, mild CVA is 6-10mm, moderate CVA is 11-15mm, and severe CVA is >15mm. Brachycephaly is defined by the cephalic index (CI). This measurement is the width/length of cranium x100. Length of cranium is measured from glabella to opisthocranion and width is measured from eurion to eurion. Normal CI is 75-90%, mild brachycephaly is 90.1-95%, moderate brachycephaly is 95.1-100%, severe brachycephaly is >100%. Currently, repositioning exercises and helmeting therapy are both options given to the parents as there is no consensus on preferred standard of care. Once the parents have made the decision, the study investigators will monitor the patient and change therapy if there is no response to treatment or if the parents decide they would like to change therapies.

The randomization will be conducted by using a system created by the USF Department of Biostatistics. It involves a covariate adaptive randomization so that the patients will continue to be randomized throughout the trial but still allowing for covariates. Covariates for this study will be :

• type of deformity - Isolated plagiocephaly (CVA >6; 75 < CI < 90), isolated brachycephaly (CVA<6; CI > 90), and mixed brachy/ plagiocephaly (CVA > 6; CI > 90)
• severity of deformity - a CVA of 10 mm would be compared to another CVA of 10mm

Once families consent for their child to be a participant, basic demographic information will be collected. Study investigators will also collect data on developmental delay. Participants will be randomized by the physician to ensure appropriate grouping into each of the above mentioned covariates. The participants'' families will subsequently be notified the same day of the results of randomization into Treatment Group A or Treatment Group B. Both treatments are currently equally used in plagiocephaly, so there is no harm to the patient in being selected for one group versus another. The physician will re-evaluate the patients at 3 months, and if no progress is made , or if the parents are unhappy with the randomized form of treatment, the parents will have the option of switching to another group.