In the fall, my almost three year old son will have a final surgery on both his feet to correct a sever case of club feet. The casts will go all the way up to his diaper, his legs will both be at a 90 degree angle and he will have pins in his feet which will make the foot section of the cast pretty big. My questions are:
I would like to find a way to push him around or let him propel himself with a stroller or toy that he can sit in comfortably. Has anyone had a child with this surgery and have any ideas. I would need a stroller that has a wide opening for his legs. It would also be more comfortable if his legs weren't dangling, but rather resting on something. I have seen a few strollers that have that dentist chair look, but more upright, but most of them are really expensive. As for propelling himself, I am looking at the plasma car, but I'm not certain that his feet will fit under the steering wheel, or that it will be very comfortable for him.
Anyway, I would love to hear back from anyone who has gone through this. I would also be interested in anyone who might have a stroller that would work for this situation. Because he is three, he will only use the stroller for the 10 weeks he's in the cast. One final question, for those of you that have gone through this, how did you deal with going to the bathroom? He will be potty trained, but do I dare risk having an accident in the cast? Should I just go back to diapers? Thanks for your help!!
Before I was a Mom, I was an ortho/cast tech for many years. You definitely do not want a bathroom accident in a cast. If there is any chance of an accident, I would use the diapers just to be safe. Also, you can purchase a cast guard to cover the cast for bathing. It is a lot easier than using a trash bag. I like the Sealtight brand www.drycast.com.
Good Luck!
When my younger son was 11, he broke his right tibia and his left ankle at the same time in an inline rollerblading accident. He had surgery on his ankle and was casted up to his knee. His right leg was casted to his groin. We used a wheelchair for the time he had the long cast. (He graduated to crutches with a walking cast on one leg and a ortho boot on the other. Yeah, he was a sight!) You can rent the wheelchair for the time needed and, generally, your insurance will pick up the tab. During the day, my son showed his independence and would drag himself down the hall and up onto chairs with his arms. Now, remember he was 11; not, three years old -- so, of course, he was bigger and stronger. As for the potty question, I don't have any answers for a three year old. For bathing, we just took large trash bags, wrapped them securely around the casts, taped them with heavy-duty wrapping tape, put a plastic chair in the shower/tub and installed a hand-held shower head with an extension tube. He could then wash himself and rinse off all from the chair without any problems. It takes alot of improvisation for times like this!
Good luck to you and your little guy!
R.
Hi, first of all I am sorry you and your son are going through this, but isn't it wonderful what modern medicine can do!
Do you know anyone who is handy with tools at all? The reason I ask is because I know of something that could be made pretty easily and cheaply that would help. When I was a young child I had a disease in my hips that caused me to be in a wheelchair for two years. The cast sounds a lot like what your chuld will have. My grandfather made me a cart that was just a few inches off the ground so I could use my arms to push myself around. I am including a link to show you a picture of the "tummy trolley." This is similar to the one I had, except mine had a back to it so I could sit up right also. Scroll about half way down to see it. It should be pretty easy to make. http://www.perthes.org.uk/photos Obviously you won't use it for long, but you could always donate it to a hospital when you are done so another child could use it. Anyway, I hope that helps. Best of luck to you.
This must be so tough for your family and son to go through, I'm sorry!
I think maybe to get a little radio flyer wagon would be nice for him to ride in if you can't find a stroller. A jogging stroller could work too, since the legs are more laid out than having to bend like a regular stroller. I see them in Kid to Kid every now and then for pretty good prices, and you can sale it once you are done with it on craigslist maybe.
And since I haven't gone through this, maybe putting him in the diaper anyways, just to be safe is a good option.
Has his Dr. or physical therapist referred you to after care yet? Perhaps they can refer some good push toys or strollers he can use.
