The AAO Journal, 2022/06, 32(2):13-14. doi: 10.53702/2375-5717-32.2.8, type of study: ,rct,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Free full text   (https://meridian.allenpress.com/aaoj/article/32/2/8/482676/LBORC-NUFA-Poster-Abstracts-2022-Residents)

Keywords:

bilirubin levels [1]
newborns [11]
pediatrics [573]
OMT [3925]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3946]
randomized controlled trial [947]

Abstract:

Introduction: Bilirubin naturally increases after birth and can be influenced by stooling and feeding patterns. If bilirubin is moderately elevated, it can lead to jaundice or even rehospitalization. OMT has been demonstrated to affect stooling and feeding positively. Objective: To investigate if OMT performed in the immediate newborn period will decrease the elevation in bilirubin levels. Methods: Term newborns younger than 12 hours were recruited from June 2017- January 2021. Exclusion criteria included observation in special care nursery, phototherapy (endpoint), or consultation for OMM. Once enrolled the newborn is randomly assorted into the OMT group or No OMT group. Initial transcutaneous bilirubin (Tcb) was measured followed by systematic screening of somatic dysfunction in 9 regions: Cranium/OA, mouth/pterygoid/palate, cervical spine, CT Junction/ T1-T4, Low thoracic/ribs/diaphragm, Lumbar/sacrum, abdomen, pelvis, and other. Participants continued with routine newborn care. Tcb levels were measured for all newborns at 24-28 hours. Chart review was utilized for endpoints. Student T-test with two sample unequal variance was used for data comparison in Excel. Results: 50 newborns were recruited. Average number of regions with presence of somatic dysfunction was 5.58 out of 9. All 50 newborns had somatic dysfunction in the Cranium/OA. 8 newborns were excluded for bilirubin analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in the change of bilirubin between initial and the 24-28 hour measurements when comparing newborns in the OMT group to the newborns in the No OMT group; t(40)=0.4, p=0.35. Conclusions: OMT did not significantly affect the bilirubin level versus routine newborn care alone. There was a trend to find somatic dysfunction in the cranium/ OA. Small sample size was a limitation to this study and recommend modified recruitment in future studies of OMT and bilirubin levels.