Concern about ridge on the inside of DOC band

[Guest guest]

We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and we're worried about the

ridge on the inner front part of the band (the part of the band which presses

against the forehead). The ridge looks like it may have left a " dimple " on the

forehead.

Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the band is no longer

worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to keep the band in place and won't

have any permanet effects. Has anyone else had any experience with this?

[Guest guest]

No one's had this experience with the DOC band? Is our kid just unlucky?

>

> We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and we're worried about

the ridge on the inner front part of the band (the part of the band which

presses against the forehead). The ridge looks like it may have left a " dimple "

on the forehead.

>

> Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the band is no longer

worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to keep the band in place and won't

have any permanet effects. Has anyone else had any experience with this?

>

[Guest guest]

We had concern about the vertical ridge in the middle back of the band - but it

wasn't leaving an indention...it just seemed like it would be uncomfortable for

our son. We never had any issues with the front.

> >

> > We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and we're worried about

the ridge on the inner front part of the band (the part of the band which

presses against the forehead). The ridge looks like it may have left a " dimple "

on the forehead.

> >

> > Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the band is no longer

worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to keep the band in place and won't

have any permanet effects. Has anyone else had any experience with this?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Is there any way you could post a photo? Is the ridge you are describing down

the middle of the band that is created from half of the front of the band being

shaved down and the other side not at all?

Not sure if this is the same thing, but Luke has a cap on the anterior left side

of his band. When we take the band off, we can see a little flattening from the

cap. I brought it up to my ortho a couple of times. She insists that it is

created from the cap pressing on the soft tissue of the head and that there is

not enough pressure to create a permanent indent or change the bone structure.

She also told me that Luke has a more softer head and that is why we see the

slight flattening. Maybe that is what is going on with ?.?.?

I have read about the " bulge " that is created from where the velcro closes and

it is compared to wearing a sock and and how the soft tissue goes back to normal

once there is no more pressure. I was worrying about whether this was true or

not along with the whole cap flattening I described above. But I think it is

true. We had to take Luke's band off for a week after we found a cyst-like bump

on his head and all the flattening and bulges went away within a week.

HTH.

Luke, 11.5 months

moderate brachy, mild plagio

STARband grad 6/09, DOCband since 9/2/09

NYC

>

> We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and we're worried about

the ridge on the inner front part of the band (the part of the band which

presses against the forehead). The ridge looks like it may have left a " dimple "

on the forehead.

>

> Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the band is no longer

worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to keep the band in place and won't

have any permanet effects. Has anyone else had any experience with this?

>

[Guest guest]

my son has only had his band 4 days, but has what I would call an indentation

above his right eye where the band goes up onto the scalp. I called my clinician

immediately when i noticed it and she said it was most likely fluid and it wasnt

a concern. I left the band off for 2 hours and it was almost gone by the time i

put it back on. It seems to be worse in the morning when I take the band off to

dress him. She said that could be because of the way he is sleeping. Its not

like that every morning though. So I'm assuming its the way he is laying. We go

back on Thursday I guess I will ask again. If you find out its something else

let us know. thanks

Kerri

mom to ph 7 months 4 days in docband

> >

> > We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and we're worried about

the ridge on the inner front part of the band (the part of the band which

presses against the forehead). The ridge looks like it may have left a " dimple "

on the forehead.

> >

> > Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the band is no longer

worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to keep the band in place and won't

have any permanet effects. Has anyone else had any experience with this?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I'll try to post pics but my wife is very reluctant about that.

The ridge is exactly as you describe. When we take the band off, you can see a

vertical line on the middle of the forehead.

I know the " bulge " created by the velcro and I'm not worried about that one as

much, but our kid does have that, too. At worst, hair should cover that.

We're particularly worried about the indent/dimple on the forehead, b/c

obviously, hair won't cover that up.

> >

> > We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and we're worried about

the ridge on the inner front part of the band (the part of the band which

presses against the forehead). The ridge looks like it may have left a " dimple "

on the forehead.

> >

> > Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the band is no longer

worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to keep the band in place and won't

have any permanet effects. Has anyone else had any experience with this?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Don't post pix if your wife isn't comfortable. It's not worth it:)

I think you should definitely talk to your ortho. It sounds like the band may

be too tight?.?.?

The situation I wrote about before regarding Luke's cap indent was helped by

smoothing out the edges so that they weren't so " edgy " . My clinician smoothed

out the edges of the cap so that they were round which made the cap edges not

lay on Luke's head so sharply, if that makes sense. It's like making the

corners of a square a little round so that they aren't so severe.

Maybe your ortho could just make the indent a little less sharp? I know that

the ridge is necessary for growth, but maybe it can just be filed a smidgen so

that it isn't so " pointy " .

Luke, 11.3 months old

mild plagio, moderate brachy

STARband grad (4-6/09), 2 months in DOC band

NYC

> > >

> > > We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and we're worried

about the ridge on the inner front part of the band (the part of the band which

presses against the forehead). The ridge looks like it may have left a " dimple "

on the forehead.

> > >

> > > Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the band is no

longer worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to keep the band in place and

won't have any permanet effects. Has anyone else had any experience with this?

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

To revive an old thread, we fitted our baby w/ a DOC band in June 09 and was

done by Nov 09. A vertical crease formed on the forehead from the ridge at the

front of the DOC band.

I talked to the ortho, and they assured me that this was purely a soft tissue

creases and would disappear. Sort of like a crease forms around your finger when

you've worn a ring for a long time but then later disappears.

Well, our kid ended treatment in November. It's now 7 months later, and the

crease is still on her forehead. I'm really nervous.

Our ortho said first it was soft tissue and the crease would go away. Now she

said it was metopic suture prematurely closing up. That seems like a strange

answer since it was first a soft tissue matter. But more importantly, we had a

cranialstenosis test before the DOCband was fitted and she showed no premature

suture closing problems.

I'm really nervous that this crease on the middle of her forehead was caused by

the DOCband. I mean the crease dove-tails the helmet ridge itself. More

importantly, now that it's been 7 months, that it's now permanent.

Any advice? Has anyone else had experiences with the supposely " soft tissue "

crease lasting several months after the band treatment ended?

Man, I wish we never got the DOCband treatment in the first place.

If anyone else reads this, make absolutely certain that any crease is purely a

soft tissue crease. Make them prove it to you. I wish I did.

> > > >

> > > > We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and we're worried

about the ridge on the inner front part of the band (the part of the band which

presses against the forehead). The ridge looks like it may have left a " dimple "

on the forehead.

> > > >

> > > > Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the band is no

longer worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to keep the band in place and

won't have any permanet effects. Has anyone else had any experience with this?

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry you are dealing with this issue. Have you been back to a specialist to

check whether it IS a metopic suture issue? If not, I would. Just because it was

ruled out prior to treatment, doesn't mean it couldn't come up later (I think

I've herd of it happening at least once). In the 2.5 years I've been on this

board, I've never heard of anyone getting a ridge down the middle of the

forehead. Can you feel a bump or anything underneath, or is it more of a skin

crease issue? I would definitely talk to a craniofacial surgeon to see what the

deal is.

Good Luck and please keep us posted.

Jake-3.5 (DOCBand Grad 9/08)

Raleigh, NC

> > > > >

> > > > > We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and we're worried

about the ridge on the inner front part of the band (the part of the band which

presses against the forehead). The ridge looks like it may have left a " dimple "

on the forehead.

> > > > >

> > > > > Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the band is no

longer worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to keep the band in place and

won't have any permanet effects. Has anyone else had any experience with this?

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Did you speak to an actual ortho or just the people that adjust the doc band? They are not orthos. The only orthos at CT are at their national office. For the most part, CT uses nurses, OT's and PT's that they train to use the doc band. I do not believe that any of them are qualified to diagnose suture closings. That diagnosis should come from a medical doctor. In other words, I think that your next step should be going to a neurosurgeon to find out about the sutures.

From: <clipperdatabase@...>Plagiocephaly Sent: Fri, July 23, 2010 12:14:46 AMSubject: Re: Concern about ridge on the inside of DOC band

To revive an old thread, we fitted our baby w/ a DOC band in June 09 and was done by Nov 09. A vertical crease formed on the forehead from the ridge at the front of the DOC band.I talked to the ortho, and they assured me that this was purely a soft tissue creases and would disappear. Sort of like a crease forms around your finger when you've worn a ring for a long time but then later disappears.Well, our kid ended treatment in November. It's now 7 months later, and the crease is still on her forehead. I'm really nervous.Our ortho said first it was soft tissue and the crease would go away. Now she said it was metopic suture prematurely closing up. That seems like a strange answer since it was first a soft tissue matter. But more importantly, we had a cranialstenosis test before the DOCband was fitted and she showed no premature suture closing problems. I'm really nervous that this crease on the middle of her forehead was

caused by the DOCband. I mean the crease dove-tails the helmet ridge itself. More importantly, now that it's been 7 months, that it's now permanent. Any advice? Has anyone else had experiences with the supposely "soft tissue" crease lasting several months after the band treatment ended?Man, I wish we never got the DOCband treatment in the first place. If anyone else reads this, make absolutely certain that any crease is purely a soft tissue crease. Make them prove it to you. I wish I did. > > > >> > > > We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and we're worried about the ridge on the inner front part of the band (the part of the band which presses against the forehead). The ridge looks like it may have left a "dimple" on the forehead. > > > > >

> > > Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the band is no longer worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to keep the band in place and won't have any permanet effects. Has anyone else had any experience with this?> > > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

It's still unclear to me, are we speaking of an edge that was carved

into the *foam lining* between a holding point and a void space? In

that case, how sharp was the edge? (90 degrees?) Or was it the

border between an intact area of the *plastic shell* and an area that

was entirely cut away?

Is the corresponding undesirable feature on the forehead raised on

one side and depressed on the other? " Misaligned skull bones " or

" malformed suture " are the terms I would suggest for that. Clearly,

such a deformity could only have resulted from the suture not being

formed at the time of treatment, and the treatment team overlooking

the significance. Sounds like simple incompetence and a winning

lawsuit, since it involves the facial appearance.

Whereas " ridge " I understand to be a long raised area between two

lower, adjacent areas. That would seem more likely to cause an

" indented " skull as you described, but it's hard to understand why

such a thing would be in the helmet... if a kid had a high point in

the middle of her forehead initially, I guess... but then wouldn't

they have labeled it trigonocephaly, TOLD you the suture had closed

early, and referred you to surgery instead of making a helmet?

Besides, I don't believe a helmet would influence that disorder at

all. Craniosynostosis is the *absence* of a suture, a single solid

piece of bone. The problem that arises is that the growth normally

occurring at the suture doesn't happen, so you lose volume in that

area. No way that could turn a raised area into a depression.

Which brings to mind the most enraging possibility: if the

technician was improvising an alternative holding point in a non-

prominent area because the helmet was defective, just to save a

buck. In that case, I would settle for nothing less than enough

shares of the company to sit on the Board of Directors!

I suspect you're going to find surgeons unwilling to help, though I

would certainly be seeking it there myself. Anything related to the

sutures suggests CST as an alternative avenue to be explored. Thanks

for keeping us posted, and good luck.

--

Thad Launderville

Clara age 2, STARband '10

> >

> > > > >

> > > > > We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and

> we're worried about the ridge on the inner front part of the band

> (the part of the band which presses against the forehead). The

> ridge looks like it may have left a " dimple " on the forehead.

> > > > >

> > > > > Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the

> band is no longer worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to

> keep the band in place and won't have any permanet effects. Has

> anyone else had any experience with this?

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

>

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[Guest guest]

If you're talking about the suture that runs up the forehead from the nose to

the hairline, that is the one suture that's supposed to be closed around 8

months old. Some children (and adults) have a more prominent suture that shows

on their forehead, but this is not a medical issue. It would only be a medical

issue if this suture were closed very early on, such as at birth. This would

have been picked up at the first cranio screening you mentioned. I know about

this because my son's is prominent and two different neurosurgeons explained to

us why it wasn't a problem. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

> > > > >

> > > > > We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and we're worried

> >about the ridge on the inner front part of the band (the part of the band

which

> >presses against the forehead). The ridge looks like it may have left a

" dimple "

> >on the forehead.

> >

> > > > >

> > > > > Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the band is no

> >longer worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to keep the band in place

and

> >won't have any permanet effects. Has anyone else had any experience with

this?

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

is confounding the closure of a *suture* with the closure

of a *fontanelle.* A closed suture is the union of the bones on

either side -- one bone, no line between. Wikipedia says this one

normally closes before age six (but sometimes it doesn't, and that's

okay).

When a *fontanelle* closes, a suture is formed. The skull shape

becomes more stable and resistant to banding, because the gristle

that it's made of only bends a little, like a hinge. (Still worth

trying, though.) When a *suture* closes, the only treatment is

surgery to divide the bone again.

They really ought to come up with a better term for the disappearance

of a suture.

Hope this helps,

Thad

On Jul 24, 2010, at 9:13 PM, stephaniebilliel wrote:

> If you're talking about the suture that runs up the forehead from

> the nose to the hairline, that is the one suture that's supposed to

> be closed around 8 months old. Some children (and adults) have a

> more prominent suture that shows on their forehead, but this is not

> a medical issue. It would only be a medical issue if this suture

> were closed very early on, such as at birth. This would have been

> picked up at the first cranio screening you mentioned. I know about

> this because my son's is prominent and two different neurosurgeons

> explained to us why it wasn't a problem. I don't think you have

> anything to worry about.

[Guest guest]

I guess that I was visualizing a ridge going the other way - horizontal - along where the end of the band touched the forehead. I'm not sure if there are even sutures there or what the original poster () meant.

From: stephaniebilliel <SBilliel@...>Plagiocephaly Sent: Sat, July 24, 2010 9:13:17 PMSubject: Re: Concern about ridge on the inside of DOC band

If you're talking about the suture that runs up the forehead from the nose to the hairline, that is the one suture that's supposed to be closed around 8 months old. Some children (and adults) have a more prominent suture that shows on their forehead, but this is not a medical issue. It would only be a medical issue if this suture were closed very early on, such as at birth. This would have been picked up at the first cranio screening you mentioned. I know about this because my son's is prominent and two different neurosurgeons explained to us why it wasn't a problem. I don't think you have anything to worry about. > > > > >> > > > > We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and we're worried > >about the ridge on the inner front part of the band (the part of the band which > >presses against the forehead). The ridge looks like it may have left a "dimple" > >on the forehead. > >> > > > > > > > > > Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the band is no > >longer worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to keep the band in place and > >won't

have any permanet effects. Has anyone else had any experience with this?> > > > >> > > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

I believe that it is normal for these spots to be open until around 18 to 24 months or so. That is why we were sent to a neurosurgeon when 's front spot was closed at 12.5 months. In her case, it was just that she has a small head and smaller heads close of earlier. Big heads close off later.

Neither our cranial doctor nor our ortho saw her soft spot closure as being a reason not to go forward with banding. They both said that it was the suture openings that were the important thing.

From: Thad Launderville <p38thadl@...>Plagiocephaly Sent: Sun, July 25, 2010 9:56:14 AMSubject: Re: Re: Concern about ridge on the inside of DOC band

is confounding the closure of a *suture* with the closure of a *fontanelle.* A closed suture is the union of the bones on either side -- one bone, no line between. Wikipedia says this one normally closes before age six (but sometimes it doesn't, and that's okay).When a *fontanelle* closes, a suture is formed. The skull shape becomes more stable and resistant to banding, because the gristle that it's made of only bends a little, like a hinge. (Still worth trying, though.) When a *suture* closes, the only treatment is surgery to divide the bone again.They really ought to come up with a better term for the disappearance of a suture.Hope this helps,ThadOn Jul 24, 2010, at 9:13 PM, stephaniebilliel wrote:> If you're talking about the suture that runs up the forehead from > the nose to the hairline, that is the one suture that's supposed to > be closed

around 8 months old. Some children (and adults) have a > more prominent suture that shows on their forehead, but this is not > a medical issue. It would only be a medical issue if this suture > were closed very early on, such as at birth. This would have been > picked up at the first cranio screening you mentioned. I know about > this because my son's is prominent and two different neurosurgeons > explained to us why it wasn't a problem. I don't think you have > anything to worry about.

[Guest guest]

The ridge isn't on the forehead itself.

The ridge is on the DOCband. Perhaps ridge is inaccurate, it's more like the

center vertical edge which divides the forehead area where skull growth is

slightly impeded vs the forehead area where skull growth is permitted.

Again, the clinician said this edge only caused " soft tissue " dimples at first.

But like I said, this vertical dimple is still there.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and we're

worried about the ridge on the inner front part of the band (the part of the

band which presses against the forehead). The ridge looks like it may have left

a " dimple " on the forehead.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the band is no

longer worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to keep the band in place and

won't have any permanet effects. Has anyone else had any experience with this?

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I've interlaced in ALL CAPS my responses below.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > We've had our child in the DOC band for a few months and

> > we're worried about the ridge on the inner front part of the band

> > (the part of the band which presses against the forehead). The

> > ridge looks like it may have left a " dimple " on the forehead.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Our clinician swears that this imprint will fade once the

> > band is no longer worn. She said that the ridge is necessary to

> > keep the band in place and won't have any permanet effects. Has

> > anyone else had any experience with this?

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> > <!-- #ygrp-mkp { border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-family: Arial;

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[Guest guest]

Wow, the first part of that surgeon's response is so surprising to

me. Online sources describe a " keel shaped " deformity, not a groove.

I like the second opinion idea, if only for this reason alone.

On Jul 28, 2010, at 3:04 AM, wrote:

> I spoke to the cranial surgeon who advised us to get the band

> (though he did say our kid was one of the milder conditions and

> some people leave it alone).

>

> He said that it appears to be a metopic suture closing up early and

> that it will fade as our child ages.

[Guest guest]

On Jul 28, 2010, at 3:25 AM, wrote:

> I've interlaced in ALL CAPS my responses below.

>

>

>

> It's still unclear to me, are we speaking of an edge that was carved

> into the *foam lining* between a holding point and a void space? In

> that case, how sharp was the edge? (90 degrees?) Or was it the

> border between an intact area of the *plastic shell* and an area that

> was entirely cut away?

>

> THE FORMER. AN EDGE CARVED INTO THE *FOAM LINING* BETWEEN A HOLDING

> POINT AND A VOID SPACE. HOW SHARP? I'D SAY 60 DEGREES OR SO.

>

> Is the corresponding undesirable feature on the forehead raised on

> one side and depressed on the other? " Misaligned skull bones " or

> " malformed suture " are the terms I would suggest for that.

>

> THE UNDESIRABLE APPEARANCE IS THIS. IMAGINE OUR KID'S FOREHEAD IS A

> PIECE OF PLAY-DOH. IF YOU PRESSED A COFFEE STIRRING STICK ONTO A

> PIECE OF PLAY-DOH AND THEN REMOVED IT, YOU'D GET A VERTICAL CREASE/

> INDENT ON IT WHERE THE STICK WAS PRESSED.

>

> JUST TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT OF THE CREASE/INDENT, IT WOULD LOOK

> SLIGHTLY RAISED. THE EXCESS PLAY-DOH HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE. THAT'S

> HOW OUR KID'S FOREHEAD LOOKS.

>

Sounds like a " groove " ? After last writing, I probed my own forehead

as an anatomical reference (I'm so objective), and found TWO

vertical grooves hidden near the center. It does therefore seem that

such a feature could be within the realm of normality.

If the helmet contour is asymmetrical, whereas the forehead is

symmetrical, then indeed, the alignment of the two would seem more

like a coincidence than cause-and-effect. The band may have rotated

a bit, as it rocked fore and aft, until that vertical edge in the

foam slid gently over the near edge of the groove, and finally just

got hung up on the distant edge, simply because it was the lowest

part of the forehead. It would have rested there fairly lightly,

while the frontal prominence properly bore the therapeutic force of

the helmet against the skull.

Or, did the helmet seem " clipped " into the groove, not rotating even

slightly? I can also imagine a scenario where the symmetry is a

coincidence. However, it seems incredibly unlikely that enough force

could be directed to the prominence to produce a therapeutic effect,

AS enough force was also directed to the suture to cause a

deformity. The foam would have had to curve back inward, toward the

center of the band, just before the point at which it was cut

away... producing a " ridge " ... ah-ha! Is *that* what you meant?

[snip]

> ONE CRANIAL SPECIALIST SAID I SHOULDN'T WORRY AND THAT I'M

> OVERREACTING. THAT IT WOULD FADE WITH AGE AND DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S

> POSSIBLE. IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T SEE. I DON'T

> SEE PEOPLE STARING AT IT. AND LITTLE KIDS DON'T POINT AT IT. BUT

> I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE BEING POLITE.

>

I, too, am aiming to ease your concern with these comments, even as

we explore the fearful possibilities. Those aren't contradictory

goals. And as I wrote previously, I still think the second opinion

is a good idea, because what they're saying doesn't quite make sense,

does it? You deserve to know the truth, not just take an opinion and

choke on it!

--

Thad Launderville

town, VT

Clara age 2, STARband '10

[Guest guest]

Does anyone know a specialist in California where I could get a second opinion?

I've already received the first opinion from Dr. Graham.

> >

> > It's still unclear to me, are we speaking of an edge that was carved

> > into the *foam lining* between a holding point and a void space? In

> > that case, how sharp was the edge? (90 degrees?) Or was it the

> > border between an intact area of the *plastic shell* and an area that

> > was entirely cut away?

> >

> > THE FORMER. AN EDGE CARVED INTO THE *FOAM LINING* BETWEEN A HOLDING

> > POINT AND A VOID SPACE. HOW SHARP? I'D SAY 60 DEGREES OR SO.

> >

> > Is the corresponding undesirable feature on the forehead raised on

> > one side and depressed on the other? " Misaligned skull bones " or

> > " malformed suture " are the terms I would suggest for that.

> >

> > THE UNDESIRABLE APPEARANCE IS THIS. IMAGINE OUR KID'S FOREHEAD IS A

> > PIECE OF PLAY-DOH. IF YOU PRESSED A COFFEE STIRRING STICK ONTO A

> > PIECE OF PLAY-DOH AND THEN REMOVED IT, YOU'D GET A VERTICAL CREASE/

> > INDENT ON IT WHERE THE STICK WAS PRESSED.

> >

> > JUST TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT OF THE CREASE/INDENT, IT WOULD LOOK

> > SLIGHTLY RAISED. THE EXCESS PLAY-DOH HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE. THAT'S

> > HOW OUR KID'S FOREHEAD LOOKS.

> >

> Sounds like a " groove " ? After last writing, I probed my own forehead

> as an anatomical reference (I'm so objective), and found TWO

> vertical grooves hidden near the center. It does therefore seem that

> such a feature could be within the realm of normality.

>

> If the helmet contour is asymmetrical, whereas the forehead is

> symmetrical, then indeed, the alignment of the two would seem more

> like a coincidence than cause-and-effect. The band may have rotated

> a bit, as it rocked fore and aft, until that vertical edge in the

> foam slid gently over the near edge of the groove, and finally just

> got hung up on the distant edge, simply because it was the lowest

> part of the forehead. It would have rested there fairly lightly,

> while the frontal prominence properly bore the therapeutic force of

> the helmet against the skull.

>

> Or, did the helmet seem " clipped " into the groove, not rotating even

> slightly? I can also imagine a scenario where the symmetry is a

> coincidence. However, it seems incredibly unlikely that enough force

> could be directed to the prominence to produce a therapeutic effect,

> AS enough force was also directed to the suture to cause a

> deformity. The foam would have had to curve back inward, toward the

> center of the band, just before the point at which it was cut

> away... producing a " ridge " ... ah-ha! Is *that* what you meant?

> [snip]

>

> > ONE CRANIAL SPECIALIST SAID I SHOULDN'T WORRY AND THAT I'M

> > OVERREACTING. THAT IT WOULD FADE WITH AGE AND DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S

> > POSSIBLE. IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T SEE. I DON'T

> > SEE PEOPLE STARING AT IT. AND LITTLE KIDS DON'T POINT AT IT. BUT

> > I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE BEING POLITE.

> >

> I, too, am aiming to ease your concern with these comments, even as

> we explore the fearful possibilities. Those aren't contradictory

> goals. And as I wrote previously, I still think the second opinion

> is a good idea, because what they're saying doesn't quite make sense,

> does it? You deserve to know the truth, not just take an opinion and

> choke on it!

>

> --

> Thad Launderville

> town, VT

> Clara age 2, STARband '10

>