Hip Subluxation

[alisonzmom]

Any body else out there dealing with this??? Today we had Alison to see Orthopedics because several people ( me, Daddy, PT, etc) had been noticing this kind of "thunk"ing feeling at times in Alison's lips, mostly on the right side. Well, turns out that her hip socket is not normal and because her ligaments are soooo lax the head of her femur is just sliding all around within the hip socket. Not quite officially dislocating, but pretty darn close. The doc wants to put her in a body cast for 3-6 months!!!! Hope is that the ligaments will "train" themselves to tighten up and hold the head of the femur in the correct position thru her entire range of motion. If this doesn't work, then the next course of action would be to go in and surgically tighten up those ligaments. I am just blown away by this right now. I've already called & set up an appt for a 2nd opinion at Strong Memorial in Rochester NY for next week but kind of figure they'll say pretty close to the same thing after reading stuff out there on the net. Alison is soooo going to hate this if we do have to cast her......... she might have taken her sweet time in learning to walk but watch out the girl is unstoppable now!!!!

Just wondering if any of ya some first or even 2nd hand experience in this.......


Barb

[wrblack]

Nope.
So, in your web surfing, did you read Dr. Leshin?
www.ds-health.com/ortho.htm
We, of course, have had series of hip x-rays done over the years, trying to find any cause for Charlie taking so long to walk. Films showed somewhat shallow acetabulums, one side worse than the other I think, but not a real problem there so far.
But, yes, have heard of lots of kids, and some somewhat older kids, having to deal with hip dislocation.
Doesn't sound like fun. But does sound like something that needs some attention. Hope you get Alison on track with minimum of discomfort and displeasure. Good luck. -- Bob

[alisonzmom]

Thanks Bob...... that was one of the first articles I read...........

Like Charlie, Alison's one side is worse than the other. Alison was also on the later side when it came to walking, she didn't start until she was 39 months old..... best Mother's Day gift I've ever gotton I must say!!!!

Thanks for the info. It's off to Rochester we go in the morning to see what the ortho dept out there has to say..........


Barb

[Emilysmom]

Barb,
How did the appointment go for the 2nd opinion?

Susan

[gabe]

Barb,

I hope everything went well. I emailed you a while back about Ali. I can remember sharing lots of strories about our children's surgeries. I had a few questions about her progress and what you are finding out as your go down this lane, since I have found very few others around Gabe's age that have undergone what they have. Hope everything turned out well at Rochester.

[Pat]

Well???
Pat

[alisonzmom]

Sorry to take so long to update on this...........

Alison is now in a Spica cast ( goes from just under her armpits all the way to her ankles ). In theory, this will allow her ligaments to tighten around her hip joints and hold the head of the femur in proper position. She'll be in this for 4 - 6 months ( 5 weeks down so far ). I just pray that this works because the alternative is extensive surgery to tighten those ligaments up. The scary part is that her DR said he has seen kids go through the surgery only to be back in the same boat a year or two later! Alison never ceases to amaze me though. She is such a little trooper!!! She had her DR, one of the nurses and I cracking up the night she was kept in the hospital. The DR was there talking to me when the nurse came in for the umpteenth time check vitals.... Alison VERY politely said "no thank you. Alison all done. Mommy's turn!" Needless to say after we stopped laughing it was my turn.... the only way she would cooperate from that point on was if I had my BP and temp checked first! She has said "all done pink bandaid. OFF!!!" a couple of times but when I tell her "No, DR says it needs to stay on" she gives this HUGE sigh and says "okie okie Mommy". Such the little drama queen already! Other than those few times she's been really good about the cast. She scoots all around on her blly dragging herself where ever she "needs" to go. Took a couple of weeks but finally got a wheelchair that would accommodate her widespread legs ( for those of you who know me, I could sit very comfortably in the first one that was sent over BUT Alison did NOT fit in it!!!! Shows ya just how widespread they've got her!) so we're finally able to get out and about a bit. The hardest thing for her is not being able to go to school. Her DR insisted that she get services at home and not go to school. UGH!!! Just when I thought I had gotton the perfect situation in place for school too! The school says that there will be a place for her whenever she is able to go back to school and I'm fairly certain they'll keep their word as they have really gone out of their way to set up a schedule with her therapists and SEIT teacher that works well for her. Plus won't hurt that I'm the President of the Parent Association and chairperson for the annual auction!!!

Other than this bump in the road, Alison is doing incredibly well. Her speach is improving almost daily, she's trying to write some letters and has learned quite a few sight words. I know we'll have a rough time once this cast is off getting her legs strengthened and getting her back walking but she'll be off and running before I know it!!!

Thanks for thinking of us!!!


Barb

[Emilysmom]

Thanks so much for the update Barb! I had been wondering about Alison! Sounds like she's handling the body cast better than most of us would!!! I can totally see her charming the docs and nurses........the perfect drama queen!
Hang in there. I'm sure it's also very hard on Mom!!!
Susan

[Deannalee]

Barb,

I am late seeing this. Justin has the same issue with both hips. They never got him a stander, so the hip never "dug" into the socket enough and it slips causing the popping you describe. So far no one says much. Our pulmonologist said she would get us a consult for a Dr regarding this. I have heard the stories of the spica casting and the surgery itself. I am hoping we can bypass it......but we'll see. Keep us posted.

Deanna