Thursday 19 June 2008

Fast forward.....for a moment...

Ok - so whilst this is really a 'historical' blog there may be the odd foray into real-time for relevant updates. Confused?!

Today we had an appointment with Emily's orthopaedic surgeon.

Following on from the clot that I posted about previously, the blood flow in the leg was compromised and it didn't grow properly. By the time she walked at around 18 months it was obviously much thinner and a good bit shorter. She has had very weak pulses in that leg all her life. We had some physio whilst she was small to help with strengthening the muscle and she has always worn a raise on her shoe in order to maintain her back and hips in alignment. Her surgeon was always hopeful that her would be able to level her out by a procedure called epiphysiodesis. The surgery involves putting pins (big fat Frankenstein bolts) in in the leg around the growth plates at the lower end of the femur and the uppper end of the tibia/fibia. The pins restrict the growth of the bone and allow the good leg to catch up. This all went ahead when she was 12 and the pins removed 2 years later.

The upshot of today's appointment was that the wounds are well healed, she's fully grown and is as good as level. Discharged. Success!!