Policy Number: SRP 080
Policy Name: Plagiocephaly – Positional and Brachycephaly
Status: Not Funded
Effective Date: 30 April 2024
Next Review Date: 30 April 2029
Mid and South Essex ICB does not fund helmet therapy for non-synostotic/positional plagiocephaly or brachycephaly.
This service/procedure has been assessed as a Low Clinical Priority by MSE ICB and will not be funded unless there are exceptional clinical circumstances.
Non-synostotic/positional plagiocephaly and brachycephaly are distortions of the skull (flattening to the side or the back of the head) that most commonly become apparent in the first few months of life as a result of the amount of time a baby spends lying on their back. Non-synostotic/positional plagiocephaly and brachycephaly are very common, affecting up to 40% of infants (as opposed to synostotic conditions which are rare).
Cranial Moulding Orthosis or ‘helmet therapy’ is an intervention that claims to correct the shape of the head. A specially moulded solid helmet is created (with space to allow the flattened area to re-mould) that must be worn 23 hours a day. This helmet requires repeated adjustments as the baby grows.
Non-synostotic/positional plagiocephaly and brachycephaly have not been shown to be associated with any long-term developmental problems and treatment has been described as entirely cosmetic.
This policy applies to children aged 2 years and under.
Craniosynostosis is not covered by the scope of this policy.
Individual funding requests should only be made where the patient demonstrates clinical exceptionality.
Find out more information on applying for funding in exceptional clinical circumstances.
Reference:
Helmet therapy for treatment of positional plagiocephaly/brachycephaly in children – Evidence based interventions