Re: The band should not be considered agressive in a bad way!!!

[Guest guest]

,

Thank you so much, I think you're on to a great mission about

promoting banding for those children who otherwise would end up

staying with a head deformity. I wish there were more people like you

- I'm sure many pediatricians would have to change the way they think

if there were.

I agree, the band should not be considered aggressive treatment, just

because it doesn't apply pressure to the prominent parts of the head.

It is a common misconception thinking that the band presses against

the head. It just slightly restricts - or rather redirects - the

growth to the part that needs it most.

Repositioning means removing the external pressure to the flat spot by

positioning the baby off it. Well, here are things that some people

don't know. Quoting: " In the case of a moderate or severe deformity,

repositioning will not be effective, regardless of age, because this

would require the head to balance on the prominent aspect of the

occiput - an inherently unstable position. " (Nonsynostotic Occipital

Plagiocephaly: Factors Impacting Onset, Treatment, and Outcomes - by

ph E. Losee, MD; Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal Vol.

119, No. 6, May 2007).

Another quote, this time from AAP's " Deformation Plagiocephaly:

Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment " (developed by Cranial

Technologies, with the assistance from S. Beals, MD, and others): " For

infants less than three months of age, aggressive repositioning of the

infant off the flattened occiput may be recommended. Among infants

between three to five months of age, orthotic cranioplasty should be

indicated, and for children five to eighteen months of age, orthotic

cranioplasty is required. After 24 months of age, surgery by a

pediatric neurosurgeon or craniofacial surgeon is necessary, as

orthotic cranioplasty is no longer an effective option. "

So, encouraging parents of babies over 3 months of age with moderate

to severe plagio/brachy to try repositoning means encouraging them to

waste time and efforts on something that most likely is not going to work.

People can be rude and yell and scream all they want, and say that my

opinion is ignorant because repo worked for them (I don't know if it

did, really, I do not know those people - and those many who I do know

state repo didn't work for them), however, my opinion is supported by

the leading experts in the field. Banding may not be the first option

on the list, but ultimately, banding is the best non-invasive way that

really works.

>

> My daughter graduated from her second Docband on October 13. She went

> from a starting point ot 19mm to 2mm, yes that is right 2! By her

> last weeks of treatment the other side of her head actually flattened

> a bit so that her head was completely symmetrical in terms of Plagio.

> She stil has some brachy, but the top of her head is level so I don't

> see that as a big deal. All facial asymmetry was corrected.

>

> The point of my post... I thought the mother who wrote in to

> encourage parents to take a more " conservative " approach and do what

> the doctors advise was sending the wrong message to this board. I

> would not have been " conservative " if I had not banded, I would have

> been ignorant, naive, and very sorry. If you have a child with mild

> Plagio repo may help. Repo and time cannot promise a good outcome the

> way a band can. If you want to be sure you fix the headshape banding

> is the way to go. It is aggressive in the best way possible,

> aggresive rather than passive.

>

> It is my mission to promote a band friendly environment in Peds

> offices so I would hate to see that message be lost here. The banding

> process was so easy and non-invasive. There is nothing to be scared

> of and certainly no reason to avoid it. If your child broke their arm

> would your ever not put a cast on it? It is the same thing.

>

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