(Painting in our day surgery "room" this morning. Hip Chick told us the rainbow was "stuck" in the cloud.)
Today is a good day. Hip Chick had her six week cast change and arthrogram this morning and we left with cautiously optimistic news.
We arrived an hour later than for her closed reduction and reported to Day Surgery. Her admission was one of our easiest experiences thus far. Our hippie was in good spirits and, to our surprise, was very amiable toward the clinical staff. Before taking her into the OR, her surgeon stopped by to elaborate on today's agenda. It was explained to us that if the imaging showed favorable results, they would clean her and recast her as planned. If they saw unfavorable progress, they would leave her uncasted and schedule an open reduction surgery.
Either way, we bid the pink cast farewell...
As with the closed reduction, we received a pager and busied ourselves with breakfast. (Aside: their Crayon Cafe's made-to-order omelettes are very tasty.) We returned to Day Surgery to receive news that they were casting her, which instantly lifted our spirits. She spent approximately 90 minutes in the OR from start to finish today and we discharged by lunchtime.
Before she returned to day surgery, her surgeon stopped by to recap. He advised that her hip looked better than at her CT appointment four weeks ago. The femur is in socket and there does not appear to be any fat or tissue to "clean out" of the socket, which is positive and encouraging news. She shows promise that her femur may have the necessary contact with her socket for proper growth. She also shows promise that her hip will remain together while casted. Her surgeon also complimented her overall cleanliness, both her skin and cast, which made Mommy smile.
However...
We were cautioned that our daughter's age and socket (mal)formation place her on the fence as to whether her hip will remain together once her 18 weeks of casting concludes. Once she begins walking and moving like a typical two year old, it is possible that her hip socket may still be unable to securely hold the femoral head in place. If it fails to do so, she will have to undergo the open reduction surgery. I asked if he determined whether her socket has begun to grow in a more correct fashion, but he advised that it is too early for that kind of progression.
In the meantime, she is casted in a similar, wide position (as before) for her new cast. We also learned that she may be casted in the same position for her next cast. Her surgeon explained to us that the hip is most stable in the wide position and that drawing her legs in could make the femur less likely to stay in socket. When her third cast is removed, it is possible that she may still sleep in a Rhino Brace, which would hold her legs in a similar position as the cast.
For today, we celebrate that she discharged home in a new purple cast! (I never thought I could be so thankful to see her in a cast.) She does not need to return again until her next recasting in six weeks. Six weeks without a doctor appointment? What freedom! Here's to what adventures those six weeks may bring.
Before she returned to day surgery, her surgeon stopped by to recap. He advised that her hip looked better than at her CT appointment four weeks ago. The femur is in socket and there does not appear to be any fat or tissue to "clean out" of the socket, which is positive and encouraging news. She shows promise that her femur may have the necessary contact with her socket for proper growth. She also shows promise that her hip will remain together while casted. Her surgeon also complimented her overall cleanliness, both her skin and cast, which made Mommy smile.
However...
We were cautioned that our daughter's age and socket (mal)formation place her on the fence as to whether her hip will remain together once her 18 weeks of casting concludes. Once she begins walking and moving like a typical two year old, it is possible that her hip socket may still be unable to securely hold the femoral head in place. If it fails to do so, she will have to undergo the open reduction surgery. I asked if he determined whether her socket has begun to grow in a more correct fashion, but he advised that it is too early for that kind of progression.
In the meantime, she is casted in a similar, wide position (as before) for her new cast. We also learned that she may be casted in the same position for her next cast. Her surgeon explained to us that the hip is most stable in the wide position and that drawing her legs in could make the femur less likely to stay in socket. When her third cast is removed, it is possible that she may still sleep in a Rhino Brace, which would hold her legs in a similar position as the cast.
For today, we celebrate that she discharged home in a new purple cast! (I never thought I could be so thankful to see her in a cast.) She does not need to return again until her next recasting in six weeks. Six weeks without a doctor appointment? What freedom! Here's to what adventures those six weeks may bring.
Good job Mom and Dad! Syd looks amazing! Your in our thoughts and prayers. Nana
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