Cranial Technologies Opens New Plagiocephaly Centers in Houston

HOUSTON, July 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston-area parents seeking plagiocephaly treatment for their babies' misshapen heads will have two new Cranial Technologies centers to visit soon. A location will open July 29 at 1065 Gessner Drive, Suite 300, and a Woodlands office is slated for a late-summer opening. The company also has clinics in Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth, plus 15 other U.S. locations.

Since the AAP's Back to Sleep SIDS-prevention campaign began more than 20 years ago, incidence of plagiocephaly has risen. Other contributing factors include torticollis (tight neck muscles), restricted womb space (especially in multiple births), and increased use of convenience devices including strollers, swings and bouncy seats.

The AAP offers guidelines to parents when their babies show signs of flat head. "Tummy time" is supervised awake-time activity, and is important in reducing the time babies spend on their backs. Repositioning protocols suggest that parents regularly alternate sides when holding, feeding and interacting with their babies, or placing them in cribs.

If the head shape doesn't improve after conservative therapy and two months of repositioning, parents and doctors may choose to pursue helmet therapy. Cranial Technologies encourages beginning treatment for babies between four to six months old using its DOC Band^®

A recent study released in the Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found that infants older than eight months who underwent helmet therapy for plagiocephaly treatment required a longer treatment time than younger babies.¹ "This research supports what we have found during our 28 years of providing helmet therapy," said Carol Erickson, Cranial Technologies president/CEO. "Early treatment means quicker results. With our two new state-of-the-art centers here, treatment will be more convenient for families in Houston."

The brain grows to 200 percent of its birth size by six months of age, and increases by only an additional 50 percent in size over the next 24 months.² "Our goal is to educate parents and pediatricians on how the DOC Band uses a baby's natural growth in the corrective process," said Amy Culpert, regional managing clinician. "We see optimal correction during this rapid growth phase, between four to six months of age."

Cranial Technologies offers a free evaluation that includes a 3D digital image analysis. Treatment begins once babies receive their FDA-cleared, custom-fitted DOC Band, and they return for regular growth adjustments. Treatment times vary depending on severity and the baby's age.

Erickson added that all Cranial Technologies clinics are staffed by physical and occupational therapists, orthotists and registered nurses that specialize in plagiocephaly treatment. "We are growing and always looking for qualified clinicians to join our team. CranialTech offers a unique opportunity to help babies and their families, and we encourage anyone interested to visit our careers page online." Career information is available at http://www.cranialtech.com/careers.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.cranialtech.com or call 1-844-447-5894.

About Cranial Technologies
Founded in 1986, Cranial Technologies (www.cranialtech.com) has provided plagiocephaly treatment to over 100,000 babies in 20 U.S. treatment centers. They invented the DOC Band, the first FDA-cleared cranial helmet, and the DSi® (Digital Surface Imaging) system. Cranial Technologies is solely devoted to the treatment and care of plagiocephaly. Additional information is available by calling 1-844-447-5894.

Media Contact:
Toni Fournier
VP, Marketing
Cranial Technologies, Inc.
(480) 272-4595
[email protected]

¹ Seruya et al. Helmet Treatment of Deformational Plagiocephaly: The Relationship between Age at Initiation and Rate of Correction, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 2013 Jan; 131(1) 55e-61e.http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Abstract/2013/01000/Helmet_Treatment_of_Deformational_Plagiocephaly__.21.aspx

² Persing, JA. MOC-PS(SM) CME article: Management considerations in the treatment of craniosynostosis, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 2008;121:1–11.

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SOURCE Cranial Technologies