Cranial Remolding Orthoses

Common head shape abnormalities in infants include:

• Plagiocephaly (Flat Head Syndrome): Characterized by an asymmetrical flattening on one side of the back or side of the head, often causing ear misalignment and facial asymmetry. It is commonly caused by prolonged pressure in one position, such as sleeping on the back.
• Brachycephaly: A condition where the back of the head is flattened symmetrically, causing the head to appear wider and shorter than normal. This can result from extended time spent lying on the back, particularly in car seats or swings.
• Scaphocephaly (Dolichocephaly): A condition where the head is long and narrow, often caused by premature birth or spending extended time in the side-lying position.
• Craniosynostosis: A more serious condition where one or more skull sutures close too early, leading to abnormal head shapes and potential brain growth restrictions. This requires medical intervention, often including surgery.
• Asymmetrical Brachycephaly: A combination of plagiocephaly and brachycephaly, where the head is both asymmetrically flattened and widened, affecting head proportions.

These conditions can often be treated with cranial remolding orthoses (baby helmets), repositioning techniques, or, in more severe cases, medical intervention. If you have concerns about your baby’s head shape, call the experts at 401-593-NBOP(6267)!

The Orthomerica STARband® Cranial Remolding Orthosis (baby helmet) is an FDA approved, effective treatment for babies between 3 and 18 months of age and has been successfully used to treat babies with asymmetrical head shapes since 2001.

The STARband® helmet is a lightweight helmet made with a flexible plastic outer shell and lined with polyethylene foam that is removed by the practitioner throughout the course of treatment to allow for growth and to provide a pathway for your baby’s head to grow into a more symmetrical shape.

The cranial helmet is created from a scan taken with either our elite Orthomerica STARscanner or our hand held data acquisition system.

The Orthomerica STARband® cranial remolding orthoses was designed to treat infants with abnormal head shapes.  Abnormal head shapes can develop when your baby is in utero, when they sleep with their head turned to the same side during the first months of life, if they have a condition called torticollis (tight neck muscles), or from being in infant car seats, carriers, strollers, swings, and bouncy seats.

Flat head syndrome is more likely to occur from multiple births, such as twins.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants sleep on their back to reduce the likelihood of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which increased the number of cases of infants developing flat spots on their heads requiring intervention.

Some cases may resolve on their own, however, treatment with a STARband® cranial remolding orthoses should be considered when the baby is between 4-6 months of age.  Correction can take anywhere from 6-12 weeks depending on the severity of the flat spot, compliance, and the age of the baby.

In older babies, a longer treatment program is necessary because the baby’s head does not grow as rapidly after 12 months of age. The baby’s active growth is a dynamic component of the treatment, as natural growth is redirected to achieve a more symmetrical and proportional head shape.  Compliance to the twenty-three hour per day wearing schedule is crucial to a successful outcome.

The STARband® cranial orthoses is also used post operatively after craniosynostosis surgery is performed.  Craniosynostosis is a birth defect in which the bones in a baby’s skull join together too early.  After surgery, a baby is often in a STARband® cranial orthoses for up to a full year.