just diagnosed-Moderate Plagio and Tortocollis-7mos HELMET???

[Guest guest]

My son was just diagnosed by a team specializing in Plagio etc with a moderate

case of plagio and left torticollis. My husband and I are having a hard time

deciding on the helmet and if it is necessary (the team suggested 2

options-repositioning or the helmet.) We have started PT this week and will be

going 2x wk and are vigilant with the repositioning and the stretches (currently

we both are home full time and able to do the stretches and adjust his sleep

positions) Our PT says the therapy really improves the facial assymetry more

than the helmet and the helmet would focus on the flat spot on the back of his

head. Our concern really is the assymetry of the face and the ear more than

having a perfectly round head (to quote my husband-just want his head to fit a

football helmet). Since his case is moderate -the only person really pushing

the helmet is the orthorist (which is how she makes her living, right?). I am

so confused on what to do about the helmet since you read so much varying

opinions to if the helmet is necessary when the case is not severe i.e. kids

grow out of it (Dr Sears /Baby 411).

We have schedule to have his fitting next week however are considering trying

the PT for 2mos to see if any improvement is made. I know time is key to

addressing the tort and plagio early which is making my dilemna more stressful.

Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated!!

[Guest guest]

Welcome-

I think moderate is worth banding. A helmet can also help with ears and facial

assymetry. My son had tort and was in PT very early, beginning at 2m old, was

done by 6m old, and he still had visible facial asymmetry. So I'm not sure I'd

bet on the PT helping completely. How old is your son? If he's still pretty

young, 3-4 months or so, then you have a couple of months to work with if you

wanted to wait on the helmet. But I wouldn't wait much past 6m old. You can set

a deadline and reevaluate then, but I would suggest taking photos weekly to

chart your progress. I can tell you that I was told my son's head would round

out and it didnt. We ended up banding him at 17 months old.

Good luck with your decision!

Jake-2.5 (DOCBand Grad 9/08)

Jordan-5

>

> My son was just diagnosed by a team specializing in Plagio etc with a moderate

case of plagio and left torticollis. My husband and I are having a hard time

deciding on the helmet and if it is necessary (the team suggested 2

options-repositioning or the helmet.) We have started PT this week and will be

going 2x wk and are vigilant with the repositioning and the stretches (currently

we both are home full time and able to do the stretches and adjust his sleep

positions) Our PT says the therapy really improves the facial assymetry more

than the helmet and the helmet would focus on the flat spot on the back of his

head. Our concern really is the assymetry of the face and the ear more than

having a perfectly round head (to quote my husband-just want his head to fit a

football helmet). Since his case is moderate -the only person really pushing

the helmet is the orthorist (which is how she makes her living, right?). I am

so confused on what to do about the helmet since you read so much varying

opinions to if the helmet is necessary when the case is not severe i.e. kids

grow out of it (Dr Sears /Baby 411).

>

> We have schedule to have his fitting next week however are considering trying

the PT for 2mos to see if any improvement is made. I know time is key to

addressing the tort and plagio early which is making my dilemna more stressful.

>

> Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated!!

>