Limb lengthening - any experience?

[Booboostwo]

Has anyone’s child gone through this? My 7yo has just had an operation to insert an external fixator on her fibula which is shorter than her tibia. The operation went well but less than a week in she has her first infection of the pin site. I know that is a common complication but bloody hell I am freaking out! The operation was bad enough, then adjusting to the fixator, then the pin turning started and now an infection already! I don’t think I can take six months of this!

No personal experience but have looked after lots of patients with external fixators. Children are surprisingly resilient and it is usually the adults that are most anxious. Limb lengthening is a long slog (and pin site infections are a fact of life) but usually worth it in the end. Hopefully some reassuring personal stories will be along shortly!

Thanks JohnHunter. Objectively it is going well. If I think of all the complications and pain she could already have had then we’ve been lucky. But subjectively it’s still really tough. She can’t bear to look at the pins and I can’t blame her. Yesterday the leg was swollen around the pins as well making everything so much worse.

I am just moaning I suppose and feeling sorry for her.

I had an external fixator as an adult for a fracture (femur) that wouldn’t heal.
The pin sites are indeed scary to look at, for an adult let alone a child, but they do settle down and become less ‘gory’ and sore. I had MRSA in one site but it cleared up quickly with the correct antibiotics.
There isn’t much you can do to make it easier other than love and treats 😃
I wore maxi skirts to cover it up so once she is feeling better, a little shopping trip to buy clothes she feels comfortable going out in might be in order.
Good luck to your little girl, it will be worth it. 💐

Thanks for sharing Witches. We had to go back into hospital so they could monitor the infection but are back home now as the doctors were reassured the antibiotics are working.

DD is getting more used to seeing the fixator, we had to hide it with a fan made out of tin foil for a while, but now it has a name and we all feel more friendly towards it!

She’s already feeling well enough for clothes shopping! I don’t think anything could stop her from clothes shopping!

Hi Mumsnet, i am new to MN and wanted some advice. My 8 year old will be having a limb lengthening procedure done to lengthen the tibia, we are of course very worried and would like to hear from anyone that has gone through the process. How to prepare for the operation, physio and adaptions made at home and how to prepare her for this op. I have been told the psychological impact is worse that the op. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.