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Introduction

Mrs. & Mr. Abdulaziz Yaqoob Mohammad Al Shehhi were first-time parents staying in Abu Dhabi. They were very excited and happy parents until they noticed that the child had a flat head. Mrs. Al Shehhi was aware of flathead cases in young children but never thought it could happen to her child. 

It’s common to observe a baby’s head a little misshaped or lopsided due to the pressure of resting in the same position for longer. The misshaped head could be due to a positional skull deformity or an uncommon but more serious condition called craniosynostosis. Craniosynostosis is a congenital condition in which the bones in a baby’s skull join too early. 

Consulting with a specialist can only help determine the cause of the baby’s head shape deformity.  

Problem

Mrs. Al Shehhi observed a non-symmetrical head shape of her baby at the age of 3 months. She initially thought it might be positional due to lying on one side of the head for longer. But she felt the need to get it checked and be sure about it. 

She visited almost 5 hospitals and consulted 6 doctors in Abu Dhabi, hoping to find an assuring solution, but in vain. All the doctors told her that this condition would get cured by itself and she needed no action. But somewhere, she disagreed with their approach and response. A thought kept provoking her, “what is the guarantee that the misshaped head will be fixed by itself? What if it doesn’t?”

She continued her research to gather more information. She came across a comment written by a 20+ year young man. He said, “I blame my parents for not treating my flat head.” It was heartbreaking for her as a parent, as she decided to find the right specialist to help her. She searched for centers for Head Orthosis in Dubai. She found out about head orthosis in Dubai and met orthotist Rahul Kashyap at Xtremity Clinic.

Diagnosis

Mrs. Al Shehhi found out that Xtremity Prosthetics and Orthotics centre is a specialized health clinic in Dubai providing paediatric treatment and care for children.

After consulting our doctors and learning about his treatment approach, she felt much relieved. They used the latest technology in 3D printing and CAD-based techniques for assessment.  

She said, “Mr. Rahul was very courteous, and he even agreed to visit my place in Abu Dhabi to get a better scan of the baby’s head. After checking the scans, we were informed that our baby could benefit from the cranial helmet treatment. I was happy to hear that but got worried at the same time. I had never seen anyone in the UAE wearing a Cranial helmet. Doctors at Xtremity allowed us to take time to think and decide. To treat the structural deformity of our child, we decided to go for the treatment.” 

Treatment

Our doctors suggested Helmet therapy to Mrs. & Mr. Al Shehhi. He informed, “Moulding helmets work by re-shaping the baby’s head and can correct moderate to severe head flattening. For head orthosis in Dubai at Xtremity, these helmets are tailor-made after doing detailed 3D scans and fitted by a specialist. It is neither painful nor uncomfortable for your baby. The treatment duration varies based on your baby’s needs, but the average treatment is 3 months”.

She agreed with Mr. Rahul and ordered the helmet. She said, “Our baby started wearing the helmet in May 2022. The process was smooth for the baby and us. The treatment got over now, and his head shape has improved. The Xtremity clinic team asked us to visit them again after 3 months to assess my son’s head.”

Cranial helmet therapy is an effective way to correct the shape of babies’ skulls gradually. As the skull of newborn babies has soft plates with spaces between them, wearing a customised cranial helmet help in correction. It’s better to take the treatment earlier than later, as, with baby growth, these plates gradually harden and knit together.

With the baby sleeping in the same position, the soft plates cause a flat level or uneven shape. This condition is termed plagiocephaly, and is not dangerous to your baby’s brain.

Results

Mrs. & Mr. Al Shehhi are pleased with the head ostosis treatment process and the result. The baby was not annoyed during the whole process. They are satisfied parents and proud to take this decision. 

Afterword

Mrs. Al Shehhi said, “A big thanks to Mr. Rahul & team, and the whole Xtremity staff for the great support in the clinic and communication via WhatsApp. They were always available and did as many scans as required for the perfect fitting. When the first one got tight, they were kind enough to provide us with a second helmet without any additional charges. This is a life-changing, truly it is.”

She also insisted on opening a branch of Xtremity in Abu Dhabi.

About Xtremity Clinic

At Xtremity clinic in Dubai, the practising orthotics hold certification and training in cranial remoulding orthosis and make an effective, thorough evaluation. They perform a 3D scan and configure the most favourable design for your child. At Xtremity, they use the best human measurement 3D scanner, which precisely captures the current head shape and size. 

Contact Xtremity for your paediatric orthotics and prosthetics rehabilitation requirements.