BACKGROUND: In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics discouraged prone sleeping positions because of its association with sudden infant death syndrome. After this was an increased incidence of deformational plagiocephaly (DP). METHODS: A retrospective review was completed for patients with DP and craniosynostosis seen by plastic surgeons at a tertiary medical center during a 19-year period. Two groups of patients were evaluated before (1988-1995) and after (1996-2007) implementation of the "Back to Sleep" campaign. RESULTS: Of the 5169 patients, those with craniosynostosis (n = 279) had a mean age at initial evaluation before and after 1996 of 12.4 versus 5.6 months (P = 0.0008). There was a trend of decreasing age at initial evaluation and first surgery after 1996. For patients with DP (n = 4890), the mean age at initial evaluation before and after 1996 was 11.5 versus 6.0 months (P = 0.10). There was a trend of decreasing age at initial evaluation and DP correction after 1996. The majority of patients had right-sided DP (50.2%), followed by left-sided (24.7%) and bilateral (18.9%). There was no significant difference in DP correction rate (67% versus 87%) or the mean age that DP was corrected (12.8 versus 11.8 mo) before and after 1996. Compared with 1996 to 1999, there was a 214% and 390% increase in DP referrals from 2000 to 2003 and 2004 to 2007. For craniosynostosis, there was a 27% and 129% increase in referrals. CONCLUSIONS: The increasing incidence of DP since the Back to Sleep campaign is concerning, but a positive outcome is that patients are being referred and treated at a younger age.
BACKGROUND: In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics discouraged prone sleeping positions because of its association with sudden infant death syndrome. After this was an increased incidence of deformational plagiocephaly (DP). METHODS: A retrospective review was completed for patients with DP and craniosynostosis seen by plastic surgeons at a tertiary medical center during a 19-year period. Two groups of patients were evaluated before (1988-1995) and after (1996-2007) implementation of the "Back to Sleep" campaign. RESULTS: Of the 5169 patients, those with craniosynostosis (n = 279) had a mean age at initial evaluation before and after 1996 of 12.4 versus 5.6 months (P = 0.0008). There was a trend of decreasing age at initial evaluation and first surgery after 1996. For patients with DP (n = 4890), the mean age at initial evaluation before and after 1996 was 11.5 versus 6.0 months (P = 0.10). There was a trend of decreasing age at initial evaluation and DP correction after 1996. The majority of patients had right-sided DP (50.2%), followed by left-sided (24.7%) and bilateral (18.9%). There was no significant difference in DP correction rate (67% versus 87%) or the mean age that DP was corrected (12.8 versus 11.8 mo) before and after 1996. Compared with 1996 to 1999, there was a 214% and 390% increase in DP referrals from 2000 to 2003 and 2004 to 2007. For craniosynostosis, there was a 27% and 129% increase in referrals. CONCLUSIONS: The increasing incidence of DP since the Back to Sleep campaign is concerning, but a positive outcome is that patients are being referred and treated at a younger age.
Authors: Safeer F Siddicky; David B Bumpass; Akshay Krishnan; Stewart A Tackett; Richard E McCarthy; Erin M Mannen Journal: J Biomech Date: 2020-03-09 Impact factor: 2.712
Authors: Matthew J Zdilla; Michelle L Russell; Kaitlyn N Bliss; Kelsey R Mangus; Aaron W Koons Journal: J Craniovertebr Junction Spine Date: 2017 Jul-Sep