Ds having hip spica removed next week after breaking his Femur - recovery?

[LeonardoAcropolis]

Hello, my DS (4) broke his femur six weeks ago and after a week in traction was fitted with a hip spica cast. It's coming off next week (fingers crossed) and obviously his poor leg will be very weak and I am wondering how he will cope with regards to movement. Does anyone else have any experiences with this? How long could it take before he is able to walk confidently? Hopefully he won't be too scared.

I had a full armpit to toe (both legs) Hip spica aged 7. When they took it off I was kept in hospital fro some time as hadn't even sat up for a few months!

I started in the hydrotherapy pool, getting legs moving whilst supported, then had a walking frame, then crutches, then sticks, but even that process was just weeks. However, if your DS has one leg that has been mobile he will probably master hopping with a frame/crutches VERY quickly.

My DS had a full length cast on one leg for 9 weeks (6 weeks solid cast & 3 weeks jointed at knee cast) and he was scared when it was finally off as his skin was very sensitive - get a HUGE tub of E45! He was also VERY hairy on that leg . He was nervous of using it but lots of soaking in the bath to help the knee and ankle bend, and lots of encouragement and he was soon running around.

Ask if there is a Physio sheet of any specific exercises your DS should be doing. I'm sure you will have follow up appts to see how he is doing. Good luck.

Thanks Miliways, that was very helpful. He does have his entire left leg free and confidently beetles around the floor. We are fully expecting a hairly leg . Any idea how plaster casts are removed? is it a saw or clippers? We will have to prepare him for that too.

I thought it looked like a small electric pizza cutter! (Little rotating wheel - drill thing) so it will make a noise but they show you that it stops as soon as through the plaster so CANNOT hurt you. DS said it tickled.

My DS was almost in tears from the plaster room to the car - he felt soo weird and sensitive, but VERY quickly got over that. (He hated his shorts touching the skin!)

Thanks Emsiero, thats very helpful and I hope your DD continues to improve. Did the hospital offer any physio? Or did they recommend any particular exercises? Also how long was she in her hip spica?