Time for an Upgrade

An unusual event occurred with P's foot while A was on screw turning duty. At the early Sunday morning crank - the screw stopped turning before the complete quarter turn and wouldn't budge anymore. We realized that the screw was fully extended, even though her toe still had some growing to do. After a call to the resident on duty, we were put into a holding pattern, until we could see Doc G on Tuesday. This means we missed two whole days of lengthening - which was very disheartening to a certain young lady!


Today at Children's Hospital, Doc G transferred out the old fixator with a new and improved longer fixator. The Doc wasn't sure how P would handle the pain and so he was ready to put her under just in case this didn't go well. But P is a very brave girl and holding on to her giraffe Morphine (that's another story I haven't had time to tell yet!) she endured the pain!


The fixator does not rest on top of P's foot - it is raised up approximately half inch. In order to keep the pins from unnecessary movement, Doc ended up loosening the original fixator and sliding it down the pins so that it rested on her foot. He then slid the new fixator onto the pins and tightened it slightly keeping the right amount of tension. He then removed the original fixator and finally slid the new one into position, tightening the clasp over the pins!


According to the x-rays, the toe now has been lengthened 1 cm. The toe has approximately 1/2 cm more to go. We are back on the turn schedule and hopefully next week at our follow-up appointment the end will be in sight.


Our next major concern is that the pin sticking down her second toe is slowly backing it's way out. Doc said this is normal; however, if it completely comes out, we will then have concerns that her toe might dislocate as we finish the lengthening. Something new to pray about.