STAR Cranial Centers of Excellence Offer Cutting-Edge Treatment to Dallas Are...( Two Metroplex locations offer rev...),Health

Two Metroplex locations offer revolutionary STARscanner, STARband(R)

cranial helmets

DALLAS, April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Mother Claudia Aguilar had been concerned about the bumps on her son Christian's head since he was born. Doctors had to utilize forceps to aid in Christian's birth, resulting in a misshapen skull. Aguilar's pediatrician told her the bumps might go away without intervention. But at Christian's six month checkup, the bumps were still present, and Christian also was showing signs of plagiocephaly, or flattening of the skull, and one of his eyes appeared to be turning to the side. Aguilar was referred to the Dallas STAR Cranial Center of Excellence at Children's Medical Center where cranial specialists evaluated Christian and fit him with a STARband cranial remolding helmet.

Christian's situation would be daunting to parents in any circumstance, but for Aguilar, who lives in Carrollton, it was especially challenging. Aguilar is legally blind. Dependant on public transportation to take her son to and from medical appointments and facing healthcare funding challenges because her children are on Medicaid, Aguilar was worried that her limited vision would cause added strain in an already unusual situation.

"When we first got the appointment to be fitted with the helmet, I was thinking 'this isn't going to work'," she said. "I was worried that he was going to have irritation from the helmet and that I would not be able to see that. And I was worried that he would be crying and wanting to take the helmet off."

Dwain Faso, CO, first evaluated Christian at six months of age and fit him with a STARband cranial helmet, which was custom-made specifically for Christian's unique head shape.

Treatment for plagiocephaly is most effective if begun at four to six months of age, as minimal head shape correction is possible beyond 18 months of age. Some physicians believe that lack of treatment can l
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