Re: Tort/Plagio and Cord Around the Neck /NOPCO

February 7, 2006

Hi Rick,

Banding can correct some of the facial asymmetry concerns you

expressed - I have seen some incredible change in many of the before

and after progress photos in the photos section of the group, so I'm

keeping my fingers crossed for you that your son will also get this

type of correction!

I may not be giving you any new information regarding the band

available from NOPCO, but I thought I'd respond. NOPCO orders its

helmets from Orthomerica, a manufacturer/distributer. The helmet

available at NOPCO is Orthomerica's Starband. Information about

Orthomerica's Starband is available on their website:

http://www.orthomerica.com/products/cranial/starband.htm

As you can see from Orthomerica's webpage, the Starband is " active, "

" requires frequent follow-up for ongoing adjustments, " and per their

FAQ page, " Typically, the infant is seen a week after the initial

fitting and approximately every 2 to 3 weeks thereafter, throughout

the course of the treatment program. Younger infants may require more

frequent follow up appointments since their heads are growing so rapidly. "

Information provided to the group from parents who have gone to NOPCO

yields that their infants are seen approx. once every 4 weeks or so.

This adjustment schedule is indicative of a less agressively styled

helmet interior - a passive helmet. In addition to the adjustment

schedule, one previous poster said that the ortho there confirmed

himself that they modify the Starband to be a passive band. This

adjustment schedule and less aggressively styled interior is not how

Orthomerica advertises its Starband qualities and protocol, and is not

at all common amongst the orthotists nationwide that order Starbands

for use. By the way, passive products DO work! Many babies here have

used passive products successfully. However, it is very important for

parents of older plagio babies to be aware of what type of product is

being offered. While active bands work well on both older and younger

babies, passive helmets work best on younger babies with lots of

growth spurts ahead of them. This is because passive helmets provide

a round shell that babies' heads eventually grow into, while active

bands more closely follow the contours of the head, and redirect

growth more immediately, necessitating the frequent adjustments.

Would you refresh my memory as to how old your son is?

Although I can remember more poor experiences with NOPCO posted on

this board, I can recall one other NOPCO success story, too, if you

are interested. Grace's dad even made a website about their

experience there. Even though it was some time ago, he may be

available for email contact if you'd like to communicate with him.

Here is Grace's plagio website:

http://www.oddnoggin.com/index.html

Grace's situation was unique in my memory, because she was quite old

by usual standards to be in a modified-to-be-passive Starband from

NOPCO, but I think her dad said she got good correction.

Good luck with everything, and please post updates when you can! I'd

welcome learning any more details about the NOPCO Starband protocol,

i.e. how often your son is being seen, etc.

Take care,

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

> > > >

> > > > My son was born with tort. His cord was wrapped around his

> neck

> > > > twice. His tort was pretty bad. He is 6 months now. Therapy

> > > since he

> > > > was 2 months. He now has almost full range of motion and is

> > > holding

> > > > his head up almost straight. He does still tilt if he is

> tired or

> > > > sitting in something like a highchair or carseat. His plagio

> was

> > > > moderate and I have been waiting for his helmet. Aggressively

> > > repo-

> > > > ing the whole time. He is rarely on his head anymore, so it

> is

> > > > shaping quite a bit on it's own. I hear that the bands only

> > > reshape

> > > > where there is brain growth and that it will not help with

> facial

> > > > assymetry. But then so many moms say that the face is so much

> > > better

> > > > after the helmet. I am concerned about the face and jaw. His

> > > upper

> > > > gum line is even noticably higher on one side. What type of

> > > > correction have you all seen in the face?

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

February 7, 2006