4005 7th Ave,
Kearney NE 68845
Email us : info@familyop.com
Call Us: 308-338-3550
Infant Cranial Helmets
Getting answers about your baby’s cranial development is quick and stress-free.
Often known as a “flat spot”, this common condition occurs in 1 in 5 children. It can be treated with repositioning and exercises such as increasing tummy time. If these measures are unsuccessful, or a child develops a more serious flat spot, known as plagiocephaly or brachycephaly, or parents are interested in a more direct treatment path, they have the option of a Cranial Remolding Orthosis (CRO).
Infant Cranial Helmets
Often known as a “flat spot”, this common condition occurs in 1 in 5 children. It can be treated with repositioning and exercises such as increasing tummy time. If these measures are unsuccessful, or a child develops a more serious flat spot, known as plagiocephaly or brachycephaly, or parents are interested in a more direct treatment path, they have the option of a Cranial Remolding Orthosis (CRO).
We offer three types of Remolding Orthosis:
THE STARBAND:
The most commonly seen orthosis, it was the first FDA-cleared CRO available to practitioners in the U.S. Ken has been successfully using this technology for 15+ years to treat hundreds of children.
NEW: STARband now provides a 3D printed CRO that are customized by our practitioner to address individual needs of each family.
THE MyCRO:
We take pride in providing the latest technology here in the heartland. The MyCRO band is available at all clinical sites, thanks to a state-of-the-art, mobile scanning system and 3D printing process. This low-profile orthosis is up to 40% lighter than a traditional helmet and has a washable liner for all those baby messes.
THE STARBAND:
The most commonly seen orthosis, it was the first FDA-cleared CRO available to practitioners in the U.S. Ken has been using this technology for 20 years to successfully treat hundreds of children.
NEW: STARband now provides a 3D printed CRO that are customized by our practitioner to address individual needs of each family.
THE MyCRO BAND:
We take pride in providing the latest technology here in the heartland. Like the STARband, the MyCRO band is available at all clinical sites, thanks to a state-of-the-art, mobile scanning system and 3D printing process. The low-profile orthosis is up to 40% lighter than a traditional helmet and has a washable liner for all those baby messes.
How It Works
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Call us to schedule an appointment
Your child's consult and scan are free of charge.
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Evaluation and scan
Discuss your goals for your child and perform a fast and simple cranial scan.
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Discuss the scan results
If you child would benefit from further treatment, we will discuss which CRO is best suited for you needs.
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Decide on a treatment plan
If you would like to proceed, we will walk you through the process of insurance verification and pre-approval so we can deliver your child's CRO as soon as possible.
How It Works
Success Stories
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Hadley's Story
Thank you Lacy Parson for allowing us to showcase your beautiful son Hadley this month.
Hadley was diagnosed with posterior right-side plagiocephaly at 3.5 months of age and sent to us for a STARscanner evaluation. Several areas are measured and compared to known normal measurements for a child his age. Hadley measured 4 deviations from the norm on 4 of 5 measures including posterior symmetry, overall symmetry, radial symmetry, and the cranial vault asymmetry index. He also had 13.9mm of a differential between the diagonal measures taken 30 degrees from the center.
He was fit with a cranial remolding orthosis or “helmet” on April 2nd. Lacy reports that after the break-in period, Hadley was wearing his orthosis full-time without complaint. His head shape was again measured on April 26, 24 days after the initial fitting. As you can see from the report, the blue line represents the changes in his head shape. He grew 14mm in circumference and his posterior, overall, and radial symmetry measurements all improved.
Furthermore, the oblique diagonal measurements improved dramatically. The cranial orthosis, or helmet, allowed his head to grow in the direction of improvement and prevented the further advance of the plagiocephaly even though he continues to sleep on his back. Since Hadley’s treatment began when he was less than 4 months old, his growth is rapid, his bones are still very soft and he should continue to improve as hoped.
Thank you again Lacy for sharing your beautiful son with us.
Kenneth Vyvlecka, BOCPO, CO
Family Orthotics and Prosthetics Inc.
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Knox's Story
Knox was seen in our office by his mother Hailey for consultation regarding a flat spot on his head. The StarScanner was used to perform the evaluation revealing some malformation caused by tight neck muscles and sleeping supine or on his back. This condition has become more common due to supine sleeping. This position was recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1992 as a result of research that showed a decrease in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) for infants sleeping on their backs.
Knox's condition is plagiocepalic in that the cranial vault symmetry revealed 17.3mm of diagonal difference. Knox was then fit with a cranial remolding helmet or CRO. We will be highlighting his progress as the weeks go by.
Thank you, Hailey, for allowing us to highlight this beautiful little boy and his progress with treatment.
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Evelyn's Story
The process that led us to a cranial remolding helmet began after the birth of our second daughter, Evelyn. It quickly became clear that something about her head and face weren’t symmetrical. She had grown into my (her mother's) pelvis during gestation and had also been born without any soft spots. My heart ached for my sweet little girl who clearly looked different; however, I was unsure as to what our next steps should be. Weekly visits to our pediatrician, an osteopath, and a chiropractor left me frustrated by the lack of apparent results.
Fortunately, my brother and sister-in-law were seasoned veterans in cranial helmet remolding as both of their children had required one. Not only did they happily, and highly, recommend Dr. Ken at Family O&P, but they also reassured me that the process of cranial remolding was straightforward, and non-invasive and the results would astound me. Feeling both skeptical and hopeful, I made our first initial consultation appointment.
Our experience with Family O&P has been simply amazing. The front desk staff is kind, reassuring, knowledgeable, and welcoming. When I met Dr. Ken for the first time, he carefully and clearly explained the entire process of cranial remolding. He was positive and confident, presented a pressure-free environment, and made sure we were comfortable with any decisions we made. Throughout the process, when questions and/or concerns arose, Dr. Ken and his staff addressed them knowledgeably and promptly. The office is also kid-friendly and I was able to bring Evelyn’s older sister without worrying she would become an annoying disturbance.
Evelyn’s helmet journey has been delightful. The helmet itself has made a clear and astonishing difference in the symmetry and visual appearance of her head and face. We are so thankful for the people who have been impacted by Family O&P and were willing to share and recommend their experience. With heartfelt gratitude, we would like to thank Dr. Ken and his staff for the care we received. Thank you Family O&P.
Mark, Elizabeth, Eleanor, and Evelyn Davis
Shelton, NE
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Barrett's Story
We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Ken and the rest of your staff for helping our son Barrett with his helmet this year. Barrett was our 1st child to need a corrective helmet, but your team was always kind and encouraging. We have been thankful for such a great result for Barrett. When he first came to your office in April, he had a flat spot on the back right side of his head, and his left eye squinted. Having never experienced a helmet before, we were hesitant at first, wondering how our son would handle it and how the helmet might affect our daily routines. However, we quickly learned that we could easily incorporate his helmet into our daily routines, and Barrett didn't seem to mind it. We were blessed by positive encouragement at every appointment and loved seeing his progress every month. By August, it was hard to believe that Barrett had made so many improvements and was ready to be done with the helmet. Today, Barrett is almost crawling and will have his 1st birthday in November. We are forever grateful that your kindness and expertise helped give our son the best possible start in life!
Bob and Holley Florell
Axtell, NE
Common Questions
See some common questions and answers below, or call us at 308-338-3550.
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Where can I find more information on CROs?
You can find more information on CROs on these websites.
You can always call the office or come in for a free consult.
The Caregivers Guide to Treatment of Deformational Plagiocephaly.
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Does my child need a prescription from the doctor to receive a scan?
No. A prescription is only required if treatment is desired.
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Will my baby be uncomfortable in the helmet?
The majority of babies have no problem wearing helmets. We use an easy and simple break in the protocol for your child to get used to wearing it full-time. The helmets are custom-made, lightweight, and designed for the utmost comfort and ease of wear for babies.
Should you have questions or concerns about the CRO your baby is wearing, please call us. If you have concerns, simply remove the CRO until you are able to contact us. We are happy to serve you as family.
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How many helmets will my baby need?
The typical baby only requires 1 helmet for the duration of their treatment.
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Are CROs covered by insurance?
CROs are covered by some insurance companies. To find out, contact your insurance provider and ask if Billing Code S1040 is covered.
We also have payment plans available for you, please call us for more information or to set up a plan.
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What does it cost?
As always, your consult and scan are free of charge.
The routine and customary fee of $3500 is all-inclusive covering the entirety of your child's treatment.
Family O&P has contracts with various insurance providers in the state of Nebraska. We will discuss the contracted rate at your appointment.
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Will I be charged for the consult and scan if I do not proceed with treatment?
No. Consultations are always FREE at Family O&P. Come talk to us about your needs, no referral is required. Know that you are always in control of your health care decisions and no action will be taken unless your permission is granted.