Re: New Member - Problems with Helmet

[Guest guest]

Traci,

I hope some group members are able to help you out with your fit

issues. My knowledge of helmet and band design is rudimentary, but

are you saying that your daughter's head corrected so quickly, that

the " holding points " of the helmet were no longer effective and

didn't fit right? I'm concerned that your daughter experienced

regression between the two helmets, and that you are now seeing the

second helmet actually flatten her head. Did she spend an

inordinate amount of time on the back of her head in between helmets

in the crib, bouncie, carseat, or swing? Is this second helmet

causing any red spots or marks on her head that don't fade within an

hour? Would you mind providing a bit more info that may help other

group members help you out? What brand or type of helmet is your

daughter wearing? Do you know if her orthotists has lot of

experience in cranial helmets?

I hope we can answer some of your questions!

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

> My 7 month old daughter has Plagio. She has had her helmet for 2

> months now. She is actually on her second helmet. Her head changed

> shape so fast with the first helmet, she had to be casted for a

> second. Her head rounded out with the first helmet within the

first

> week. Once the head was round the helmet was to big and kept

falling

> off. It took two weeks for her new helmet to come in. During this

> time, her head started to flatten out again. Just 3 days of

wearing

> the second helmet her head rounded out again. Now this helmet is

not

> fitting correctly and her head is starting to flatten out again.

The

> Neurosurgeon said he has never seen anything like this and he does

> not know why it happened. He suggested we let her go with out the

> helmet and see what happens. I do not want to do this, her head

> changes so much, I am afraid it will flatten completely in her

sleep.

> Had anyone had similar problems?????

>

> Thanks, Traci & Kiley

[Guest guest]

Yes. Kiley's head corrected so fast, that the helmet was no longer effective. Kiley did not stop wearing the first helmet until she got the second one. We put padding in the first helmet to make it fit better. I was afraid to let stop wearing it, her head was changing so fast. The second helmet is causing red spots all over. She has only been wearing this one for two weeks now. She gets casted tomorrow for her third. Hanger makes the helmets. They are full helmets with the clasp on the left side. I believe they are called Starbands. She gets casted and the Ortho sends the mold to Arizona for the helmet to be made. The ortho has a lot of experience. I actually called another Ortho and he suggested we stick with the one we see. He said that our Ortho treats the majority of the children in this area.

Thanks,

Traci & Kileyredlocks2003 <redlocks@...> wrote:

Traci,I hope some group members are able to help you out with your fit issues. My knowledge of helmet and band design is rudimentary, but are you saying that your daughter's head corrected so quickly, that the "holding points" of the helmet were no longer effective and didn't fit right? I'm concerned that your daughter experienced regression between the two helmets, and that you are now seeing the second helmet actually flatten her head. Did she spend an inordinate amount of time on the back of her head in between helmets in the crib, bouncie, carseat, or swing? Is this second helmet causing any red spots or marks on her head that don't fade within an hour? Would you mind providing a bit more info that may help other group members help you out? What brand or type of helmet is your daughter

wearing? Do you know if her orthotists has lot of experience in cranial helmets?I hope we can answer some of your questions!Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)> My 7 month old daughter has Plagio. She has had her helmet for 2 > months now. She is actually on her second helmet. Her head changed > shape so fast with the first helmet, she had to be casted for a > second. Her head rounded out with the first helmet within the first > week. Once the head was round the helmet was to big and kept falling > off. It took two weeks for her new helmet to come in. During this > time, her head started to flatten out again. Just 3 days of wearing > the second helmet her head rounded out again. Now this helmet is not > fitting correctly and her head is starting to flatten out again. The > Neurosurgeon said he

has never seen anything like this and he does > not know why it happened. He suggested we let her go with out the > helmet and see what happens. I do not want to do this, her head > changes so much, I am afraid it will flatten completely in her sleep. > Had anyone had similar problems?????> > Thanks, Traci & KileyFor more plagio info

[Guest guest]

,

Welcome to the group! I hope this thrid bands this a great fit. Let

us know.

> My 7 month old daughter has Plagio. She has had her helmet for 2

> months now. She is actually on her second helmet. Her head changed

> shape so fast with the first helmet, she had to be casted for a

> second. Her head rounded out with the first helmet within the first

> week. Once the head was round the helmet was to big and kept

falling

> off. It took two weeks for her new helmet to come in. During this

> time, her head started to flatten out again. Just 3 days of wearing

> the second helmet her head rounded out again. Now this helmet is

not

> fitting correctly and her head is starting to flatten out again.

The

> Neurosurgeon said he has never seen anything like this and he does

> not know why it happened. He suggested we let her go with out the

> helmet and see what happens. I do not want to do this, her head

> changes so much, I am afraid it will flatten completely in her

sleep.

> Had anyone had similar problems?????

>

> Thanks, Traci & Kiley

[Guest guest]

Christie,

The red spots do go away after an hour. We are not sure if we should let her go without the helmet. The third helmet will take 2 weeks to come in. I am afraid her head will get worse. Her PT recommends we keep the 2nd helmet on until we get the third. The Neuro says throw the helmet away. We get different advice from everyone we talk to. I am calling a facility in Houston tomorrow morning that makes the Docbands to see if we can take Kiley there. We may cancel her appointment tomorrow for her third casting.

I would say Kiley's head shape has improved about 90%. If I was not so afraid of her head flattening again, I would probably just leave the helmet off for a while and see what happens.

We live in Covington, LA. I am sure you are familiar with Covington, since you are from Slidell. I am in Slidell about once a week, there is still no mall in the Covington Mandeville area.

Thanks,Traci & Kiley

redlocks2003 <redlocks@...> wrote:

Traci,I hope the new, third helmet is a better fit! The red spots all over caused by the second helmet do not sound good! Do these red spots go away in an hour if you take the ill-fitting band off? Have you decided to leave this ill-fitting band off until you get your third helmet? Hanger actually makes their own band called the "Hanger Cranial Band" and sometimes offers the "Starband," manufactured by another company, Orthomerica. They are similar looking in appearance, both "active" bands, and FDA approved. Some Hanger locations now have the Insignia scanning system instead of traditional casting. Overall, have you seen some good correction with Kiley from the first band? If other orthos are continuing to recommend that you stay with this ortho, than it may be that he is the

only one in your area with any experience in cranial banding. I hope you don't have a big time gap between casting and fitting of this third band, especially if your daughter's head continues to change so fast. Did I read that you are in the New Orleans area? I was born in, and have family there, in Slidell. Whenever I go there for a visit, I have to bring sweatpants, because I eat so much I can't fit into my pants by the time the visit's over! Anyway, I don't think we have heard of any locations for treatment in the Louisiana area before, owing to experienced orthotists being limited. I have heard of members travelling to Texas or Georgia for treatment. Would you keep us posted with how your treatment is going w/Kiley at Hanger? Please let us know if you are happy with the service there, and feel free to post some progress photos of Kiley in our PHOTOS section. My own daughter,

Remy, is in the PHOTOS/BEFORE AND AFTER/REPOSITIONED folder (we ended up using aggressive repositioning only to treat her plagio/brachy.)Take care,Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)> > My 7 month old daughter has Plagio. She has had her helmet for 2 > > months now. She is actually on her second helmet. Her head changed > > shape so fast with the first helmet, she had to be casted for a > > second. Her head rounded out with the first helmet within the > first

> > week. Once the head was round the helmet was to big and kept > falling > > off. It took two weeks for her new helmet to come in. During this > > time, her head started to flatten out again. Just 3 days of > wearing > > the second helmet her head rounded out again. Now this helmet is > not > > fitting correctly and her head is starting to flatten out again. > The > > Neurosurgeon said he has never seen anything like this and he does > > not know why it happened. He suggested we let her go with out the > > helmet and see what happens. I do not want to do this, her head > > changes so much, I am afraid it will flatten completely in her > sleep. > > Had anyone had similar problems?????> > > > Thanks, Traci & Kiley> > > > For more plagio info