Earlier this year my daughter who is now 19 months was put into a hip spica cast due to her hip not being in her socket. The doctor thought that if he 'popped' it into place it might work. Well after 3 months of a cast and three months of recovery we found out just last friday that she will be going in Feb to have a salter osteotomy surgery and another 3 months of a cast. My biggest concern with this casting is that before she was able to sit in a old style bouncy seat to eat because she was eating baby foods, now she eats table foods and I am not sure what she can sit in while in the cast to eat without laying down half way! DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?
Poor baby! I would let her stand during meal times then keep her standing or playing upright for a while after the meals. She'll get enough laying down for a lifetime!
So sad for your family! I hope she heals right from this procedure.
I was in a body cast a little younger, but I could sit up? Are you sure she will not be able to sit up?
Hi K.,
I was the first person to have this op, some 40 years ago, and my daughter was born with the same hip displaysia. We put her in a brace and the hips moved into place and all is well. I can so relate on both levels of what you are going through, as a parent and as the child having the so can relate to where you are comong from. My dad made me a sort of skate board which I used to use to push myself around on and as far as eating goes why not just prop her up on cushions on a chair or sofa and give her one of those TV dinner trays to eat off. Shew you have brought so many memories back for me. I promise your daughter will be ok. I was told I would need a hip replacement by the time I hit 30 and I am still going on my salter hip. I swim, ride horses, do tri-athlons and lead a full life : ) all the best and just go with the flow, your daughter will figure out ways to get things done in a way that works for her.
Do you know anyone that builds things? Maybe you could design a little thing for her...I am thinking of one of those Einstein jumper/bouncers where the child is in an upright position, with a tray either in front or around her but without the toys. I am visioning a circular piece of wood (tray) with a hole in the middle for a fabric type seat and some sort of legs...
Do you have a picture in your head? Know a good carpenter?? If it were me, I could have my dad fashion something, he is pretty handy with woodworking! ...... Good luck!!! :-)
Or - see what the doctor recommends :-P (probably the easier route to take before finding a builder, buying supplies, etc) :-D
I was born with 100% hip dysplasia 44 years ago--no hip sockets at all. After traction, complete body cast from the arm pits down (twice, because after the first cast came off, I grew so fast that when I was about 2.5 years old, I had to go into another one), and braces I can walk, have no hip pain, have no arthritis, and hopefully, will never have to worry about hip surgery as I get older. Thankfully, by being in the cast, my body "formed" its own hip sockets naturally.
Since I was in such a big, stiff cast, I "stood up" when I ate. I honestly couldn't even tell you how my parents positioned me to feed me; I'm thinking they somehow tied me into/onto a chair with a back so that I, indeed, "ate standing up." In fact, now that I think about, I think that's exactly what they did, using those big white muslim dish towels to tie me in.
Good luck on the surgery. I am sending good vibes that your little one will be fine after this.
