MY SON IS THREE AND A HALF AND HAS PFFD IN HIS RIGHT LEG. HE HAS A SPLINT THAT HELPS HIM WALK AND APART FROM HAVING A SLIGHT LIMP YOU WOULDN'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHIN WRONG WITH HIS LEG. THE HOSPITAL HAS ADVISED US TO AMPUTATE HIS FOOT FOR COSMETIC REASONS CAUSE HIS FOOT WILL GET TO BIG FOR HIS SPLINT BUT I CANT GET MY HEAD ROUND BEING THE ONE TO TAKE AWAY HIS FOOT. HIS RIGHT LEG IS FIVE INCHES SHORTER.I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY ADVISE ON WETHER YOU DECIDED TO AMPUTATE OR LENGHTEN YOUR CHILDRENS LEG. AND IF YOU DECIDED TO GO WITH LENGHTENING HOW MUCH PAIN WAS YOUR CHILD IN. THANKS. MY EMAIL IS m.cushen@yahoo.com
Comments
treatment options
Have you thought about not doing any surgery? Prostheticians can make prosthetic devices that go over a PFFD foot. My daughter is wearing one right now. Her foot sticks out a bit in front, so she can't wear tight pants like blue jeans, but it's not a big deal. It's probably similar to the one your son is wearing.
They can also make a device which orients the toes pointing down, so he would be able to wear blue jeans. It's called a Moseley device, I think.
If you don't feel comfortable with the hospital's suggestion, try to find another doctor or hospital.
We have decided to lengthen our daughter's leg. But since she hasn't had surgery yet, I can't tell you how painful it was.
amputation
Amputation is a very private desision to make and there are not any right answers, as with Beth, my son wears an prostetic leg but his foot points down, at the moment this doesnt allow for him to have a knee joint, but he doesnt need one, he gets around very well a bit too well! Toms right foot is level with his knee so the prostesis simply slides on over the top with his foot pointing down, we have been told we can have a knee joint when he is older ( i believe this to be the moseley device), We personally have left the foot,as it is in perfect condition and has full gait but when he gets older if he wants it amputated himself to have better movement he can make the choice hiself, but as i said there are no right and wrong answers, just trust what you believe
treatment options
My son is almost 2 and will potentially have the same dilema if we opt not to lengthen, use a different prosthetic device, etc.
As your son is older you probably have more issues finding pants to fit over his leg/foot than I currently do. However, at the moment I have had a lot of luck with wide leg and husky pants as well as opening the seam up and adding extra material or snaps.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Beth
My daughter Kiara is 5 yrs
My daughter Kiara is 5 yrs old and is having the lenghtening it has grown almost 2cm please read my blog "My best gift arrived on Christmas day...
my email is xaninhakk75@hotmail.com
sonia