Impact of the use of the Beanie on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants with Plagiocephaly

Noormah Mehmood

Abstract

Introduction: Deformational Plagiocephaly (DP) is the abnormal flattening of the skull. DP has been associated with abnormal brain shape and worse neurodevelopmental outcomes on the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III (BSID-III). In 2009, the FDA approved a repositioning Beanie for prevention of flat head. Purpose: To assess the impact of the use of the Beanie on neurodevelopment of preterm infants with DP admitted in the NICU using the BSID-III. Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed between January 2013-2017. Infants less than 32 weeks gestational age, under 1500g birth weight and attending high risk follow-up clinic were included. Patients with congenital cardiac defects, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and severe neurologic impairment were excluded. The Beanie was used for patients diagnosed with DP. BSID-III for patient’s language, motor and cognition was performed at the 12- and 24-months follow-up.