Re: Can we talk #s?

[Guest guest]

The numbers show that things are going well, but there are

developmental factors that are not reflected in the progress

statistics. Well, not the ones you've cited: circumferential growth

is the one that does. The more new bone is formed under the

influence of the helmet, the better. Because the end result will be

a sum of the poorly shaped bone that was already mineralized before

treatment, and bone correctly shaped under the influence of a helmet.

Another aspect of the bone growth is suture formation -- the

connecting of the plates -- which I guess is unfortunately too

difficult to quantify. When sutures have formed, they remain

flexible, but there is at least a mathematical requirement that the

sum of the interior angles (conceiving of the skull as a flexible

parallelogram) be 360 degrees; supported by the underlying brain,

there comes to be a certain stability to the angular configuration.

(To the chagrin of some of us whose children were banded late.)

The remaining fontanelles, or gaps between the plates, excuse

adjacent bones from compensating for the angles of other bones.

That's an advantage on the edge of the bone that is growing into the

fontanelle, but a disadvantage where sutures have already formed.

Where ridges may have popped up along sutures under the helmet,

broadening with continued circumferential growth, there would be no

reason for that process to continue without external force. You

might even see the angles flex back to a bad shape.

Hope this helps,

Thad Launderville

town, VT

Clara age 2, STARband '10

On Jul 9, 2010, at 12:46 PM, susan wrote:

> My 5 1/2 month old son has been wearing his StarBand for 5 weeks.

> He initially measured a 10mm difference in R-L (I forget the name

> for the measurement) and now he is measuring at 2-5mm. Of course we

> are really happy with this progress, but the orthodist still keeps

> pushing 3-4 months. My son sleeps on his stomach now and his tort

> is almost fully corrected so I am not sure he would need it that

> whole time. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks.

[Guest guest]

My son started out with a 9 to 10 mm difference at 6 1/2 months old, has worn the starband for 6 weeks and is now at a 3 mm difference. Our orthotist said once the difference is so minimal, it is really up to the parents if they want the baby to continue to wear the band. My son is going to wear his band for a couple more weeks only at night to monitor for regression and then he will be done.

Are there other changes that you are trying to make beyond correction of the left/right assymetry that would account for wearing the helmet longer?

From: susan <smreidel@...>Plagiocephaly Sent: Fri, July 9, 2010 12:46:00 PMSubject: Can we talk #s?

My 5 1/2 month old son has been wearing his StarBand for 5 weeks. He initially measured a 10mm difference in R-L (I forget the name for the measurement) and now he is measuring at 2-5mm. Of course we are really happy with this progress, but the orthodist still keeps pushing 3-4 months. My son sleeps on his stomach now and his tort is almost fully corrected so I am not sure he would need it that whole time. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks.

[Guest guest]

I had the same question as well.  Does your son also have brachecephaly which would be indicated by a high Cephalic Ratio?  Normal ratio is 78% and most doctors advise banding if it is over 90%.  Perhaps you can ask the ortho what the Cephalic Ratio is.

 

Molly

Novato, CA

Nicolas, 4.5, STARband graduate

On 10 July 2010 04:28, Crane <karenc423@...> wrote:

My son started out with a 9 to 10 mm difference at 6 1/2 months old, has worn the starband for 6 weeks and is now at a 3 mm difference.  Our orthotist said once the difference is so minimal, it is really up to the parents if they want the baby to continue to wear the band.  My son is going to wear his band for a couple more weeks only at night to monitor for regression and then he will be done. 

Are there other changes that you are trying to make beyond correction of the left/right assymetry that would account for wearing the helmet longer?

 

From: susan <smreidel@...>Plagiocephaly

Sent: Fri, July 9, 2010 12:46:00 PMSubject: Can we talk #s? 

My 5 1/2 month old son has been wearing his StarBand for 5 weeks. He initially measured a 10mm difference in R-L (I forget the name for the measurement) and now he is measuring at 2-5mm. Of course we are really happy with this progress, but the orthodist still keeps pushing 3-4 months. My son sleeps on his stomach now and his tort is almost fully corrected so I am not sure he would need it that whole time. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks.

[Guest guest]

For , his measurements were normal at level 3, but this is only at

one level.  Up higher his asymmetry was worse.  Of course, everybody

has more asymmetry up high, but 's was still quite visible to me. 

I believe the overall visible appearance should be taken into account.

On the other hand, I'm sure my older son's measurements are over 3mm,

maybe even 6mm.   I bet there is close to 2mm asymmetry from his

forehead alone.  When I stick my fingers into his hair at where the

measurements are taken, it could easily be 4 mm.  When is hair is

short, I see it.  But his head does not look bad.  Despite the big

difference in asymmetry measurements, my boys' heads look close to

comparable in severity.

I have to be honest though, that my older son's plagio has been

concerning me lately, even though it doesn't look that bad.

Best,

Kathy, mom to 2 and 5.5

Crane wrote:

 

My son started out with a 9 to 10 mm difference at 6 1/2 months

old, has worn the starband for 6 weeks and is now at a 3 mm

difference.  Our orthotist said once the difference is so minimal, it

is really up to the parents if they want the baby to continue to wear

the band.  My son is going to wear his band for a couple more weeks

only at night to monitor for regression and then he will be done. 

Are there other changes that you are trying to make beyond

correction of the left/right assymetry that would account for wearing

the helmet longer?

 

From:

susan <smreidel >

Plagiocephaly

Sent: Fri, July 9,

2010 12:46:00 PM

Subject: Can

we talk #s?

 

My 5 1/2 month old son has been wearing his StarBand for 5 weeks.

He initially measured a 10mm difference in R-L (I forget the name for

the measurement) and now he is measuring at 2-5mm. Of course we are

really happy with this progress, but the orthodist still keeps pushing

3-4 months. My son sleeps on his stomach now and his tort is almost

fully corrected so I am not sure he would need it that whole time. What

are your thoughts on this? Thanks.