Newborn Cranial Somatic Dysfunction - An Observational Study

100 newborns will be assessed for somatic dysfunction of the head, cervical, lumbar, and sacral areas. These findings will be compared to the findings of a standard newborn physical exam and the newborn and maternal history. These records will be reviewed for maternal age, parity, gravity, anesthesia during labor, and estimated gestational age. Birth history and initial newborn assessments will be reviewed for labor augmentation, duration of labor, length of second stage of labor, presence of instrumental delivery(vacuum extraction, forceps delivery, etc.), multiple birth, and presentation at delivery (breech, transverse, or compound presentation). The purpose of the study is to quantify the presence of somatic dysfunction in the newborn. We will assess any relationships between the identified somatic dysfunctions and factors present in the mother's and newborn's medical history.

Primary outcomes

• Somatic Dysfunction Scale Score (SDSS) [Newborns were examined between 6 an 72 hours postnatal]: Healthy newborns ages 6 to 72 hours postnatal were physically examined and assessed for somatic dysfunction including asymmetry and motion restriction of the cranium, cervical, lumbar, and sacral regions. Total somatic dysfunction identified was summarized in a somatic dysfunction severity scale (SDSS) by assigning one point for each identified findings. SDSS could range from 0 (no somatic dysfunction) to 34 (all somatic dysfunctions assessed were present). Findings were compared to maternal, newborn, and delivery characteristics. Descriptive analyses and comparisons between the initial newborn assessment and research physical examination were performed.

Sex: All, ages: 6 Hours to 72 Hours, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* The infant must have been born at NRMC
* The infant must be greater than 6 hours old when enrolled
* The infant must be less than 72 hours old when enrolled
* The mother must volunteer to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

* Born outside NRMC
* Infants who are critically ill will be excluded
* Infants with open spina bifida will be excluded
* Infants with a cleft lip will be excluded
* Infants with a cleft palate will be excluded
* Children who are wards of the state will be excluded

• Frymann V. Relation of disturbances of craniosacral mechanisms to symptomatology of the newborn: study of 1,250 infants. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1966 Jun;65(10):1059-75. No abstract available. PMID 5178520
• Carreiro J. Labor, delivery and birth. In: Carreiro, J. An Osteopathic Approach to Children, 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2009: 131-145.
• Results publication: Waddington EL, Snider KT, Lockwood MD, Pazdernik VK. Incidence of Somatic Dysfunction in Healthy Newborns. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2015 Nov;115(11):654-65. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2015.136. PMID 26501758

• Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan (PDF, 2011-07-21)
• Informed Consent Form (PDF, 2011-07-21)

• Erica Waddington, D.O., Principal investigator, A. T. Still University