Re: Kaitlyn got her helmet-posted pics of her in it sad!!!

December 16, 2005

Bobbi,

I hope you are able to get in touch with the ortho soon. Are you

leaving the helmet off for now?

Are you certain that Kaitlyn's helmet is a Starband???? I double-

checked their website, and none of their band or helmet products

look like your baby's helmet. They do have a bi-valve Starlight,

but it's clear plastic, and the two pieces don't come together like

Kaitlyn's helmet. Her helmet doesn't look like merely a Starband

without the cut-out; it looks really different from the side, too.

I may be getting the wrong impression from her photos, but I'm not

sure:

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

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

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

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

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

Can you get the ortho to clarify exactly what brand of band and what

the name of your baby's band is? You can tell him that you have

referenced the Orthomerica website, and her band doesn't resemble

any of the 5 bands they provide. If it is one of the Starband

products, or a new or modified Starband product, then he can clarify

which one. This information can help, because there may be someone

here at the group who has used that particular style of helmet, you

will know if it is an FDA approved helmet, or if it is the first

time this type of helmet has been known to be used in our group -

that will be useful info, too.

I'm very, very sorry Kaitlyn is having fit issues... it is not

uncommon to hear of several adjustments being needed at the

beginning of treatment to get that right, first, initial fit

settled, and it sounds like Kaitlyn is in need of an adjustment for

sure. To be perfectly candid, I have not seen a helmet that looks

like hers before. Also, it is not customary (although I have heard

of a few orthos in a few instances) to drill holes into helmets as

that can theoretically compromise the structure and corrective

qualities of a helmet. In addition, I looked at Kaitlyn's photos of

her head shape without the helmet, and think I can see some scapho

qualities combined with plagio characteristics - scapho is a long

and narrow head shape that can be common in preemies.

http://www.cranialtech.com/medicalinfo/assessment/scaphocephaly.pdf

http://www.cranialtech.com/medicalinfo/assessment/plagiocephaly.pdf

The scapho head shape is the rarest of the head shape issues. Not

all helmets/bands are FDA approved to treat scaphocephaly, so you

are entitled to know specifically what type of helmet Kaitlyn's

ortho is using. Because it is so rare, very few orthos have

experience in treating scapho. Has her ortho used this type of band

before? How many scapho babies has her ortho treated before? If

you don't yet have the answers to these questions yet, you may want

to ask them next time you communicate with him.

Please keep us posted, and let us know what the ortho says!

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

> Bobbi,

> Poor thing! She doesn't look happy at all! What kind of helmet

is

> that?

> Do you think she's hot since it's a full helmet? It can take a

few

> days to adjust to the temperature change.

> Hope today is better

>

> For more plagio info

December 16, 2005