Re: Diagnosis and Australian 'Helmets'

[Guest guest]

Joanne,

Thank you for the update and the information! I am so glad that you were able

to get some help. We have another lady in this group who has had SOOOO much

trouble trying to find out if treatment was even available in Australia - in

fact she was told that it was not!

I'm glad that you and are able to get help and it sounds like from

your post that you feel that the cost is pretty reasonable. (I'm not sure how

Australian money converts to American!)

Please keep us posted!

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

Wow Joanne! Thank you for all of the information. It was really informative!

I can't believe the great cost and convenience - that is GREAT!! I will

definately keep this information in mind in case we get any new members from

Australia and I can't track you or down!! LOL

Best of luck with your treatment and I hope you will be able to post some

pictures so we can see what your device looks like.

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

Joanne:

Has had a CT scan or X-rays? If there is ridging on the metopic suture, it could be cranio. (although the fusion of the metopic shouldn't be causing a long/narrow head shape).

Please keep us updated, it's GREAT to hear that an Aussie is getting help!!! )

Kendra in CanadaFor more plagio info, visitwww.plagiocephaly.org/support...

----- Original Message -----

From: joanne@...

Plagiocephaly

Sent: Monday, March 12, 2001 9:34 PM

Subject: Diagnosis and Australian 'Helmets'

Hey Everyone, One month after our plastic surgeon said that we should look into the shape of 's head we have a diagnosis. has deformational plagiocephaly characterised by a too long and narrow head, he has some metopic ridging and bifrontal bossing. Does that sound wordy enough?On Thursday we have an appointment to be cast for a helmet (band) by a local (Brisbane) othopaedist. It is only going to cost $285 (Australian dollars and including tax) and I haven't even asked if it is covered by health insurance.Joanne

[Guest guest]

Marci,

Actually at the present exchange rate that would be less than $150 US

for a local orthopaedist to make a custom band and I gather he does a

lot. What is more it will be a matter of diagnosed Tuesday, cast on

Thursday and banded a week or so later, and all within 40mins drive.

The sad thing is that if had known, and even if in the unlikely

event that noone in Sydney made them and Sydney is bigger than

Brisbane, it would only have cost less than $100 US to fly here.

Joanne

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the concern Kendra,

Actually CS was what we were initially looking at. We had xrays taken

at a large Childrens Hospital and analyzed by people used to seeing

cs. All sutures and fontanelles were open. What is more ... the

ridging and shape are inconsistent with cs ... for example there is

some metopic ridging (only from fontanelle to forehead - not right

down to the nose) but instead of seeing the triangular forehead, we

have bifrontal bossing - the exact opposite to the shape you would

expect in cs. Similarly there is some bicornial ridging, but it is an

elongated head shape - again the exact opposite to cs.

The other point of interest, both my other children had narrow heads

and some metopic ridging, beleived now to be positional plagio.

's head rounded out fairly well. 's head has

triangular shape but with a flat forehead (ie not as in metopic cs)

and wide biparietal diameter (wide behind ears).

Regardless of how I sleep my children they seem to sleep on the sides

of their heads!!!

Joanne

[Guest guest]

Joanne:

I'm glad to hear that all of the CS stuff has been examined and ruled out!! )

Kendra in CanadaFor more plagio info, visitwww.plagiocephaly.org/support...

----- Original Message -----

From: joanne@...

Plagiocephaly

Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2001 12:50 PM

Subject: Re: Diagnosis and Australian 'Helmets'

Thank you for the concern Kendra,Actually CS was what we were initially looking at. We had xrays taken at a large Childrens Hospital and analyzed by people used to seeing cs. All sutures and fontanelles were open. What is more ... the ridging and shape are inconsistent with cs ... for example there is some metopic ridging (only from fontanelle to forehead - not right down to the nose) but instead of seeing the triangular forehead, we have bifrontal bossing - the exact opposite to the shape you would expect in cs. Similarly there is some bicornial ridging, but it is an elongated head shape - again the exact opposite to cs. The other point of interest, both my other children had narrow heads and some metopic ridging, beleived now to be positional plagio. 's head rounded out fairly well. 's head has triangular shape but with a flat forehead (ie not as in metopic cs) and wide biparietal diameter (wide behind ears).Regardless of how I sleep my children they seem to sleep on the sides of their heads!!!Joanne