Sarah Willis1, Robert Hsiao1, Ruth A Holland2, Kelly Lee3, Ken Pitetti4. 1. Department of Neonatology, Wesley Medical Center, 550 N. Hillside St., Wichita, KS 67214, USA. 2. Department of Neonatology, Wesley Medical Center, 550 N. Hillside St., Wichita, KS 67214, USA. Electronic address: Ruth.Holland@wesleymc.com. 3. Department of Neonatology, Wesley Medical Center, 550 N. Hillside St., Wichita, KS 67214, USA. Electronic address: Kelly.Lee@wesleymc.com. 4. Department of Physical Therapy, Wichita State University, 213 N. Mead St, Wichita, KS 67202, USA. Electronic address: ken.pitetti@wichita.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Research has focused on the presence of nonsynostotic head deformities (NHD: plagiocephaly, dolichocephaly, brachycephaly) in preterm infants at discharge and within the first year after discharge. However, there is limited data on NHD in preterm neonates during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay. AIM: To acquire quantitative data on head shapes among preterm neonates during NICU hospital stay. STUDY DESIGN: Investigators performed weekly head measurements on 68 premature infants starting within two weeks of birth or when medically stable until discharge. Infants recruited for the study were born at <34 weeks gestational age. OUTCOME MEASURES: Cranial index (CI) and cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) were calculated from Ballert cranial caliper measurements during the infants stay (27 to 40 weeks postmenstrual age) in the NICU/Special Care Nursery (SCN) setting. Inter-rater retest reliability was determined for CI and CVAI. RESULTS: Throughout the measurement period, CI consistently demonstrated dolichocephaly (CI < 0.76), and CVAI fluctuated above and below the range indicating plagiocephaly (CVAI ≥ 3.5%). Good to acceptable levels of test-retest reliability was demonstrated; prevalence of dolichocephaly and plagiocephaly at discharge was 82% and 36%, respectively; and mean head dimension measurement time for different combinations of bed types and support systems ranged from 1.1 to 1.9 min. CONCLUSIONS: Following the progression of CI and CVAI during the NICU stay using the cranial caliper method is reliable, and a substantial presence of NHD was reported.
BACKGROUND: Research has focused on the presence of nonsynostotic head deformities (NHD: plagiocephaly, dolichocephaly, brachycephaly) in preterm infants at discharge and within the first year after discharge. However, there is limited data on NHD in preterm neonates during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay. AIM: To acquire quantitative data on head shapes among preterm neonates during NICU hospital stay. STUDY DESIGN: Investigators performed weekly head measurements on 68 premature infants starting within two weeks of birth or when medically stable until discharge. Infants recruited for the study were born at <34 weeks gestational age. OUTCOME MEASURES: Cranial index (CI) and cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) were calculated from Ballert cranial caliper measurements during the infants stay (27 to 40 weeks postmenstrual age) in the NICU/Special Care Nursery (SCN) setting. Inter-rater retest reliability was determined for CI and CVAI. RESULTS: Throughout the measurement period, CI consistently demonstrated dolichocephaly (CI < 0.76), and CVAI fluctuated above and below the range indicating plagiocephaly (CVAI ≥ 3.5%). Good to acceptable levels of test-retest reliability was demonstrated; prevalence of dolichocephaly and plagiocephaly at discharge was 82% and 36%, respectively; and mean head dimension measurement time for different combinations of bed types and support systems ranged from 1.1 to 1.9 min. CONCLUSIONS: Following the progression of CI and CVAI during the NICU stay using the cranial caliper method is reliable, and a substantial presence of NHD was reported.
Authors: Jana-K Dieks; Laura Jünemann; Kai O Hensel; Charlotte Bergmann; Stefan Schmidt; Anja Quast; Sebastian Horn; Matthias Sigler; Philipp Meyer-Marcotty; Petra Santander Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2022-05-27 Impact factor: 4.996
Authors: Petra Santander; Anja Quast; Johanna Hubbert; Laura Juenemann; Sebastian Horn; Kai O Hensel; Philipp Meyer-Marcotty; Jana-Katharina Dieks Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-10-27 Impact factor: 4.379