Jack had his hips checked at every well baby visit, vaccination and visit to the ER (which included xrays clearly showing his dislocated left hip at 2 months old). Jack's CDH slipped through 12 different people! It was detected one very fateful visit to the Children's Hospital by an amazing radiologist for RSV and pneumonia!
Following are the entries I added to our CaringBridge page right after diagnosis ....
MONDAY, APRIL 07, 2008 12:00 PM, CDT
Okee Doke, here we go!
Jack's appointment went really well this morning. His surgeon is fabulous & will be the same one that saw Jack as an in-patient last week! We have a very good feeling about not only her but the whole ortho clinic!
Jack is scheduled for April 18th to have surgery. Here is the plan ... as of today.
For his right hip, which is stable but dislocates when moved and has a shallow 'cup' (or acetabulum), Dr. Joughin will do a closed reduction (meaning no surgical incisions are needed) into position. Jack's tendons should be loose enough to move this hip fairly easily into the right spot. Our hope for this hip, is that the pressure from the ball on the socket will encourage it to grow & surround the ball of his hip more.
His left hip is a weeee bit more complicated. She will have to make a small incision and 'nip' his tendon as it will be too tight & currently limits movement in this hip. Due to it being completely dislocated since birth, the cup (acetabulum) has not formed. There appears to be a little lip where it should be .... so the plan is to place the ball up against this lip to encourage it to grow (grow baby grow!).
Once both hips are in place they will cast Jack with his new 'frog legs' from armpit to ankle for approximately 6 months. He will need to go into the OR every 6 weeks to check the progress of his hips & get a new cast.
This is what would be our best outcome for the 18th & the one we really, really want!
This webpage has a really good visual for those of you more like me :) Jack's right hip looks like picture C and his left hip looks like picture E.
http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/press/2007/11/hip-dysplasia.html
Now ... IF Dr. Joughin is unable to get Jack's hips into a good position he will need an open reduction. An open reduction is when the hip is opened and the surgeons can physically see & place Jack's hips rather than using xray. The risks to this surgery are higher and recovery would be longer. So we really really want the closed reduction to be successful :)
After Jack's 6 months in a cast he will have some pretty cool braces that he will start wearing 24/7 and eventually be able to move to just wearing at night-time.
We are doing well - I am back in shock after seeing his xrays & I know that Rich is feeling the same. It is just so hard to believe that so many Dr.'s and nurses missed this. Dr. Joughin, I am pleased to tell you, is going to give 'our miracle radiologist' big kisses - we are so greatful he noticed Jack's hips .... so greatful!!
Jack's appointment went really well this morning. His surgeon is fabulous & will be the same one that saw Jack as an in-patient last week! We have a very good feeling about not only her but the whole ortho clinic!
Jack is scheduled for April 18th to have surgery. Here is the plan ... as of today.
For his right hip, which is stable but dislocates when moved and has a shallow 'cup' (or acetabulum), Dr. Joughin will do a closed reduction (meaning no surgical incisions are needed) into position. Jack's tendons should be loose enough to move this hip fairly easily into the right spot. Our hope for this hip, is that the pressure from the ball on the socket will encourage it to grow & surround the ball of his hip more.
His left hip is a weeee bit more complicated. She will have to make a small incision and 'nip' his tendon as it will be too tight & currently limits movement in this hip. Due to it being completely dislocated since birth, the cup (acetabulum) has not formed. There appears to be a little lip where it should be .... so the plan is to place the ball up against this lip to encourage it to grow (grow baby grow!).
Once both hips are in place they will cast Jack with his new 'frog legs' from armpit to ankle for approximately 6 months. He will need to go into the OR every 6 weeks to check the progress of his hips & get a new cast.
This is what would be our best outcome for the 18th & the one we really, really want!
This webpage has a really good visual for those of you more like me :) Jack's right hip looks like picture C and his left hip looks like picture E.
http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/press/2007/11/hip-dysplasia.html
Now ... IF Dr. Joughin is unable to get Jack's hips into a good position he will need an open reduction. An open reduction is when the hip is opened and the surgeons can physically see & place Jack's hips rather than using xray. The risks to this surgery are higher and recovery would be longer. So we really really want the closed reduction to be successful :)
After Jack's 6 months in a cast he will have some pretty cool braces that he will start wearing 24/7 and eventually be able to move to just wearing at night-time.
We are doing well - I am back in shock after seeing his xrays & I know that Rich is feeling the same. It is just so hard to believe that so many Dr.'s and nurses missed this. Dr. Joughin, I am pleased to tell you, is going to give 'our miracle radiologist' big kisses - we are so greatful he noticed Jack's hips .... so greatful!!
| SUNDAY, APRIL 06, 2008 04:45 PM, ADT |
It's Sunday night and we are ready for tomorrow morning & whatever it brings. The house is clean, laundry is done, freezer & fridge are full ... but the best part is Jack has been home this week. It was neat to see how excited he was to be home - big 'happyjack' smiles for everyone! He's had a great week & seems to be completely recovered from the RSV & pneumonia, which is what the Dr.'s were hoping for, for tomorrow. We meet with Jack's Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Braurer, tomorrow morning at 8:15. When we met her partner, Dr. Joughin, last Monday she let us know that tomorrow's appointment will be to discuss upcoming treatment &/or surgery as well as scheduling. I was very impressed with Dr. Joughin on Monday. She literally 'hauled' all the Doctor and residents that had seen Jack during his 5 days in the hospital & taught them how to check children's hips 'properly'. I felt sick when she told me Jack's diagnosis & it felt very good to see her share the same emotion. CHD is normally caught within the first few weeks of life & the earlier it is caught the less invasive & lengthy the treatment. It's hard to believe how long Jack has gone. We will update as soon as we have answers and dates tomorrow. |
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