Plagiocephalometry: a non-invasive method to quantify asymmetry of the skull; a reliability study

Abstract

We conclude that PCM is an easy-to-apply, non-invasive and reliable measurement instrument to assess skull asymmetry with good clinical accuracy and low application costs. PCM might serve as an instrument to be used in all levels of care for children with DP, and might provide information concerning the natural course of DP, as well as the assessment of the effects of conservative treatment strategies on DP.

Value and reliability of anthropometric measurements of cranial deformity in early childhood

“…positional head deformities, in contrast to other authors (Mortenson and Steinbok, 2006). The reliability results are comparable to those of other studies (Littlefield et al, 1998;van Vlimmeren et al, 2006), although different methods of measurement were used among the studies. We attribute our results to the consistent and ongoing training of examiners, the standardized measurement protocol, the well-trained assistants, and especially the standard head position of the examinee, which is particularly important in examining small infants.…”

“…An early start of helmet therapy and subsequent use of the orthosis is necessary to achieve satisfactory results (Biggs, 2003). Nevertheless, diagnosis of cranial deformity remains imprecise (Mortenson and Steinbok, 2006;van Vlimmeren et al, 2006).…”

“…Various research groups have investigated the intra-and interrater variabilities of cranial measurements (Loveday and de Chalain, 2001;Hutchison et al, 2005;van Vlimmeren et al, 2006;Glasgow et al, 2007), with measurements by standardized calipers being the most common anthropometric tool (Farkas, 1996;Littlefield et al, 1998;Kelly et al, 1999;Graham et al, 2005). The accuracy of caliper measurements has usually been checked by averaging three measurements (Mulliken et al, 1999;Graham et al, 2005) by a well-trained examiner.…”

Analysis of changes to the anterior chest wall after the Nuss procedure—an objective measurement of pectus excavatum

“…From a cosmetic perspective, direct anthropometric measurements of the ACW are 1-dimensional and insufficient for assessing all chest wall changes [5]. In contrast, feature extraction and analysis of molded plastic strips have been used to record head shape changes during early infancy with some success [6,7].…”

A Statistical Model of Head Asymmetry in Infants with Deformational Plagiocephaly

“…The excellent properties of the model makes using the model attractive compared to other methods of asymmetry assessment. Other methods, as direct anthropometry of the head (e.g., [7]), measurement systems using a head ring or strip (e.g., [8], and [9]), or even measurements on 3D scans (e.g., [10]), produce a multitude of parameters, making the interpretration difficult in terms of asymmetry and less intuitive. Contrary to [11] and [12], which use a sparse set of inter-landmark distances, computing the asymmetry at every surface point provides the opportunity to create a high spatial resolution asymmetry model.…”