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Abbey's leg report
Jun. 28th, 2006 12:34 pmYesterday we trundled down to beautiful sunny Oneonta for Abbey's annual visit to Dr. Dutkowski, the Orthopedist Who Rocks Like a Rocking Thing.
(For those who are new to the story: my daughter Abbey was born with a congenital bone defect, a bowed tibia on the left side. The curve in the bone has somewhat straightened itself out with time, but it has left her with one leg 1 1/2 inches shorter than the other. The condition is rare enough that we've kept her with the same orthopedist since infancy, despite the long commute.)
So, the usual X-ray and poking and prodding, followed by the $64,000 question of What Now? Basically, the doctor has laid out two options, both involving surgery:
Option #1: Operate on the good leg to stop its growth on one end, while allowing the bad leg to continue growing on both ends, the idea being that the short one would eventually catch up in length, more or less. She'd have to wear a brace for 3 weeks or so, but she'd be able to leave the same day, and walk almost immediately.
Option #2: Operate on the bad leg, breaking it in half and installing a cranking mechanism that would lengthen the leg a millimeter a day for a month. The appliance (and a prace) would then stay on for another 3 months.
Abbey spoke right up: "I choose number 1!" (Upon which Dr. D dutifully wrote "#1" right in the middle of the sheet, and circled it. Did I mention that I adore him?)
Next step is another checkup a year from now, at which time we'll evaluate the timing of the surgery. (Needless to say, when doing an operation like #1, timing is everything.) Said surgery could take place as early as next year. It's times like this that I hate evry possible answer, but I think all will be well in the long run.
(For those who are new to the story: my daughter Abbey was born with a congenital bone defect, a bowed tibia on the left side. The curve in the bone has somewhat straightened itself out with time, but it has left her with one leg 1 1/2 inches shorter than the other. The condition is rare enough that we've kept her with the same orthopedist since infancy, despite the long commute.)
So, the usual X-ray and poking and prodding, followed by the $64,000 question of What Now? Basically, the doctor has laid out two options, both involving surgery:
Option #1: Operate on the good leg to stop its growth on one end, while allowing the bad leg to continue growing on both ends, the idea being that the short one would eventually catch up in length, more or less. She'd have to wear a brace for 3 weeks or so, but she'd be able to leave the same day, and walk almost immediately.
Option #2: Operate on the bad leg, breaking it in half and installing a cranking mechanism that would lengthen the leg a millimeter a day for a month. The appliance (and a prace) would then stay on for another 3 months.
Abbey spoke right up: "I choose number 1!" (Upon which Dr. D dutifully wrote "#1" right in the middle of the sheet, and circled it. Did I mention that I adore him?)
Next step is another checkup a year from now, at which time we'll evaluate the timing of the surgery. (Needless to say, when doing an operation like #1, timing is everything.) Said surgery could take place as early as next year. It's times like this that I hate evry possible answer, but I think all will be well in the long run.
