Re: starscanner results! + 2 Brachy ...what does it mean?

[Guest guest]

My daughter has brachy and we had our measurements through a STARscanner. I'm not sure what +2 brachy means. Was that a number that the ortho gave you? The +2 brachy could mean two standard deviations above normal, but I'm only guessing.

Can you give us the numbers for the cranial legnth and cranial width? That is what will tell you about the brachy measurements. You have to divide the width by the length to get the actual percentage. An ideal number is in the low 80's, but I've heard that most orthos start to recommend banding at about 90 percent. My daughter started at 95 percent and graduated at 92.2 percent.

, mom to , 28 months

STARband grad May 2009

Chiro and CSt

land

starscanner results! + 2 Brachy ...what does it mean?

hi everybody, My husband and I are looking to get a second helmet/band for our 9.5 months son. I think by the time we actually get one he will be 10 m.o. I am really hoping we will see more improvement. According to the orthotist that we are currently using he started with 14 mm asymmetry and now is down to 2mm. she said he could be done and she will not do a second helmet with him. My son started the helmet when he was 4 m.o.2 mm sounds great, doesn't it? but i started questioning her measurements as the plagio is still so obvious.so we ve gone to to two other orthotists so far. both confirmed that the asymmery is at 6.4mm ( according to the starscanner) and 6mm according to another hand measurement.well, i though that my son only had plagio, but today the starscanner results put him at + 2 brachy. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? how severe is it? do you think my son still has time to improve? We are also traveling to chicago next monday to go to CT appointment and see what they have to say. I am starting to feel that they are our only hope at this point. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this! i would appreciate your advice or opinion on our situation.Tatiana( mom to )

[Guest guest]

Thank you for writing back!

so in the summary report i found the following numbers:

CVA 6.4mm left plagio, Cephalic Ratio 91.6 %, Brachy + 2

crenial breadth 137.9mm, crenial length 150.5mm

>

>

>

> My daughter has brachy and we had our measurements through a STARscanner. I'm

not sure what +2 brachy means. Was that a number that the ortho gave you? The +2

brachy could mean two standard deviations above normal, but I'm only guessing.

>

>

> Can you give us the numbers for the cranial legnth and cranial width? That is

what will tell you about the brachy measurements. You have to divide the width

by the length to get the actual percentage. An ideal number is in the low 80's,

but I've heard that most orthos start to recommend banding at about 90 percent.

My daughter started at 95 percent and graduated at 92.2 percent.

>

>

>

> , mom to , 28 months

>

> STARband grad May 2009

>

> Chiro and CSt

>

> land

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Ticker id: IvP3   Ticker id: yZZP     Ticker id: lFno

>

>

>

> starscanner results! + 2 Brachy ...what does it mean?

>

>  

>

>

>

>

> hi everybody,

>

> My husband and I are looking to get a second helmet/band for our 9.5 months

son. I think by the time we actually get one he will be 10 m.o. I am really

hoping we will see more improvement. According to the orthotist that we are

currently using he started with 14 mm asymmetry and now is down to 2mm. she said

he could be done and she will not do a second helmet with him. My son started

the helmet when he was 4 m.o.

> 2 mm sounds great, doesn't it? but i started questioning her measurements as

the plagio is still so obvious.

> so we ve gone to to two other orthotists so far. both confirmed that the

asymmery is at 6.4mm ( according to the starscanner) and 6mm according to

another hand measurement.

> well, i though that my son only had plagio, but today the starscanner results

put him at + 2 brachy. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? how severe is it? do you think my son

still has time to improve?

> We are also traveling to chicago next monday to go to CT appointment and see

what they have to say. I am starting to feel that they are our only hope at this

point.

> Thanks so much for taking the time to read this! i would appreciate your

advice or opinion on our situation.

>

> Tatiana( mom to )

>

[Guest guest]

Brachycephaly is measured by the Cephalic Ratio which is Cranial

Breadth/Cranial Length.

ideal ratio - 78%

normal - 73-83%

moderate - 83.1% to 87.9%

severe - 88% and higher

Plagio severity can be measured by the Cranial Vault Asymmetry (CVA), in

your case, 6.4 mm.

0-3 mm is normal

<6 mm is very mild

6-10 mm is mild

10-15 mm is moderate

15+ mm is severe

Hope this helps!

Molly

Novato, California

Nicolas, 4, tort & plagio, STARband (CIRS Oakland) 4/24/06-9/12/06,

Graduate!

, 6.5

, 10

Re: starscanner results! + 2 Brachy ...what does it mean?

Thank you for writing back!

so in the summary report i found the following numbers:

CVA 6.4mm left plagio, Cephalic Ratio 91.6 %, Brachy + 2

crenial breadth 137.9mm, crenial length 150.5mm

>

>

>

> My daughter has brachy and we had our measurements through a STARscanner.

I'm not sure what +2 brachy means. Was that a number that the ortho gave

you? The +2 brachy could mean two standard deviations above normal, but I'm

only guessing.

>

>

> Can you give us the numbers for the cranial legnth and cranial width? That

is what will tell you about the brachy measurements. You have to divide the

width by the length to get the actual percentage. An ideal number is in the

low 80's, but I've heard that most orthos start to recommend banding at

about 90 percent. My daughter started at 95 percent and graduated at 92.2

percent.

>

>

>

> , mom to , 28 months

>

> STARband grad May 2009

>

> Chiro and CSt

>

> land

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Ticker id: IvP3   Ticker id: yZZP     Ticker id: lFno

>

>

>

> starscanner results! + 2 Brachy ...what does it mean?

>

>  

>

>

>

>

> hi everybody,

>

> My husband and I are looking to get a second helmet/band for our 9.5

months son. I think by the time we actually get one he will be 10 m.o. I am

really hoping we will see more improvement. According to the orthotist that

we are currently using he started with 14 mm asymmetry and now is down to

2mm. she said he could be done and she will not do a second helmet with him.

My son started the helmet when he was 4 m.o.

> 2 mm sounds great, doesn't it? but i started questioning her measurements

as the plagio is still so obvious.

> so we ve gone to to two other orthotists so far. both confirmed that the

asymmery is at 6.4mm ( according to the starscanner) and 6mm according to

another hand measurement.

> well, i though that my son only had plagio, but today the starscanner

results put him at + 2 brachy. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? how severe is it? do you

think my son still has time to improve?

> We are also traveling to chicago next monday to go to CT appointment and

see what they have to say. I am starting to feel that they are our only hope

at this point.

> Thanks so much for taking the time to read this! i would appreciate your

advice or opinion on our situation.

>

> Tatiana( mom to )

>

------------------------------------

For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

My daughter's brachy started at about 96% according to the star scanner (our doc

measured her closer to 100%). Our specialist (cranio facial plastic surgeon)

recommends banding at 90% or above. She graduated at about 85%. I wanted to quit

when she was around 88-87% but our ortho and doc both convinced me to keep

going. So I would think you should also try to get in the 80's if possible.

Maybe that is why you still notice her head shape quite a bit. I would ask the

ortho about the brachy and what kind of correction you can expect.

-christine

sydney, 4 yrs, starband grad

> >

> >

> >

> > My daughter has brachy and we had our measurements through a STARscanner.

I'm not sure what +2 brachy means. Was that a number that the ortho gave you?

The +2 brachy could mean two standard deviations above normal, but I'm only

guessing.

> >

> >

> > Can you give us the numbers for the cranial legnth and cranial width? That

is what will tell you about the brachy measurements. You have to divide the

width by the length to get the actual percentage. An ideal number is in the low

80's, but I've heard that most orthos start to recommend banding at about 90

percent. My daughter started at 95 percent and graduated at 92.2 percent.

> >

> >

> >

> > , mom to , 28 months

> >

> > STARband grad May 2009

> >

> > Chiro and CSt

> >

> > land

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Ticker id: IvP3   Ticker id: yZZP     Ticker id: lFno

> >

> >

> >

> > starscanner results! + 2 Brachy ...what does it mean?

> >

> >  

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > hi everybody,

> >

> > My husband and I are looking to get a second helmet/band for our 9.5 months

son. I think by the time we actually get one he will be 10 m.o. I am really

hoping we will see more improvement. According to the orthotist that we are

currently using he started with 14 mm asymmetry and now is down to 2mm. she said

he could be done and she will not do a second helmet with him. My son started

the helmet when he was 4 m.o.

> > 2 mm sounds great, doesn't it? but i started questioning her measurements as

the plagio is still so obvious.

> > so we ve gone to to two other orthotists so far. both confirmed that the

asymmery is at 6.4mm ( according to the starscanner) and 6mm according to

another hand measurement.

> > well, i though that my son only had plagio, but today the starscanner

results put him at + 2 brachy. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? how severe is it? do you think

my son still has time to improve?

> > We are also traveling to chicago next monday to go to CT appointment and see

what they have to say. I am starting to feel that they are our only hope at this

point.

> > Thanks so much for taking the time to read this! i would appreciate your

advice or opinion on our situation.

> >

> > Tatiana( mom to )

> >

>

[Guest guest]

i am a little in shock still since our ortho was only treating plagio and never

even mentioned that my son might have brachy:(( even though his plagio improved,

i feel like we've waisted a lot of time with the ortho we are currently seeing.

i am doing my best right now to find somebody i can trust. i cannot wait to

start his treatment again!

thank you everybody for sharing your experience!

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > My daughter has brachy and we had our measurements through a STARscanner.

I'm not sure what +2 brachy means. Was that a number that the ortho gave you?

The +2 brachy could mean two standard deviations above normal, but I'm only

guessing.

> > >

> > >

> > > Can you give us the numbers for the cranial legnth and cranial width? That

is what will tell you about the brachy measurements. You have to divide the

width by the length to get the actual percentage. An ideal number is in the low

80's, but I've heard that most orthos start to recommend banding at about 90

percent. My daughter started at 95 percent and graduated at 92.2 percent.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > , mom to , 28 months

> > >

> > > STARband grad May 2009

> > >

> > > Chiro and CSt

> > >

> > > land

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Ticker id: IvP3   Ticker id: yZZP     Ticker id: lFno

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > starscanner results! + 2 Brachy ...what does it mean?

> > >

> > >  

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > hi everybody,

> > >

> > > My husband and I are looking to get a second helmet/band for our 9.5

months son. I think by the time we actually get one he will be 10 m.o. I am

really hoping we will see more improvement. According to the orthotist that we

are currently using he started with 14 mm asymmetry and now is down to 2mm. she

said he could be done and she will not do a second helmet with him. My son

started the helmet when he was 4 m.o.

> > > 2 mm sounds great, doesn't it? but i started questioning her measurements

as the plagio is still so obvious.

> > > so we ve gone to to two other orthotists so far. both confirmed that the

asymmery is at 6.4mm ( according to the starscanner) and 6mm according to

another hand measurement.

> > > well, i though that my son only had plagio, but today the starscanner

results put him at + 2 brachy. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? how severe is it? do you think

my son still has time to improve?

> > > We are also traveling to chicago next monday to go to CT appointment and

see what they have to say. I am starting to feel that they are our only hope at

this point.

> > > Thanks so much for taking the time to read this! i would appreciate your

advice or opinion on our situation.

> > >

> > > Tatiana( mom to )

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

With your starting numbers, there was definately more plagio than brachy. Molly mentions some numbers that were established in the 1970s before the back-to-sleep campaign, but I don't think that those numbers would be accurate if a new study were conducted today. Using the old numbers, I'm guessing that 50 percent of current babies would be described as having at least a moderate brachy. Hey - I'd love to have my daughter in the moderate brachy range from those standards.

I would just say that the number should at least be in the 80s somewhere. So, a number in the lower 90s is not that bad. That versus a plagio number of 14 mm would lead to a correct conclusion that the plagio was more severe. I would actually guess that your brachy number is a mild to moderate number by today's standards. So, I agree with that if you are going to band for that 6 mm plagio number, it would be worth also working on getting the brachy down a little bit.

We started at 95 percent and got down to 92.2 percent and I would have liked more improvement, but she was already 20.5 months old when she graduated so what we got was considered good for her age. I believe that my daughter looks quite wonderful these days, but I also believe that we got more improvement since her graduation and that she is most likely somewhere around 90 percent. I am a numbers person so I don't like that her number is so high, but in reality, it doesn't look bad so I've decided not to get stuck on the fact that her head will never be in the low 80's. Visually, it looks pretty good and that is what counts.

I'm not trying to discourage you from getting a second band - I'm just trying to help you calm down about that brachy number. I really don't think that a 91 percent is that bad. There are babies who graduate from bands with those numbers. What really shows up are those 100 percent or 105 percent cases that really do exist. 91 percent is probably not visible to the average person. But, if you are going to band for the plagio, then it wouldn't hurt to hope for more improvement there.

, mom to , 28 months

STARband grad May 2009

Chiro and CST

land

starscanner results! + 2 Brachy ...what does it mean? > > > > > > Â > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > hi everybody, > > > > > > My husband and I are looking to get a second helmet/band for our 9.5 months son. I think by the time we actually get one he will be 10 m.o. I am really hoping we will see more improvement. According to the orthotist that we are currently using he started with 14 mm asymmetry and now is down to 2mm. she said he could be done and she will not do a second helmet with him. My son started the helmet when he was 4 m.o. > > > 2 mm sounds great, doesn't it? but i started questioning her measurements as the plagio is still so obvious. > > > so we ve gone to to two other orthotists so far. both confirmed that the asymmery is at 6.4mm ( according to the starscanner) and 6mm according to another hand measurement. > > > well, i though that my son only had plagio, but today the starscanner results put him at + 2 brachy. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? how severe is it? do you think my son still has time to improve? > > > We are also traveling to chicago next monday to go to CT appointment and see what they have to say. I am starting to feel that they are our only hope at this point. > > > Thanks so much for taking the time to read this! i would appreciate your advice or opinion on our situation. > > > > > > Tatiana( mom to )> > >> >>