REDUCTION OF CRANIOFACIAL AND PALATAL NARROWING IN VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS

Many infants born preterm have positional moulding of the head and pal ate. This study investigates whether specially designed, foam pressure dispersing pads (PDP) worn throughout the neonatal hospital course, w ere not only effective in reducing craniofacial flattening, but also i n lessening palatal narrowing in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants. The study was conducted in two phases. Twenty-three consecutively born VLBW infants were randomly selected to act as a comparative group. Th e next 31 VLBW infants born comprised the intervention group, and wore PDP during hospitalization. The two groups were similar in birthweigh t and gestational age. The groups were compared for changes in craniof acial and palatal parameters at three time intervals during hospitaliz ation. Results indicated a significant increase in growth of craniofac ial width, palatal width and palatal area of infants wearing PDP compa red to those infants not wearing them. These findings suggest that cra niofacial and palatal narrowing observed in VLBW infants may be reduce d by the wearing of PDP during hospitalization.