Dr. Todd had us sign the consent for surgery today at our appointment. Based on the x-rays that were taken in December (before her first surgery) he has the planned procedure listed as such: Bilateral Femoral Osteotomies; possibly Bilateral Pelvic Osteotomies. (osteotomy: bone-cutting). The good news that we got today is that the pelvic surgery and spica cast are only listed as POSSIBILITIES.
Olivia had hip x-rays today and Dr. Todd will refine his surgical plan in the days before the surgery. However it is just a plan, even with the more recent x-rays. Once he begins the surgery, he may feel he needs to do more or less than he expected. The signed consent gives him the leeway without requiring him to stop mid-surgery to come out, explain the need for more surgery, and then scrub back in. We signed the consent for the most involved procedure possible. If he can do less and get the results he's looking for, he will.
What this means for us is that IF he doesn't have to do everything possible, just the femoral osteotomies, her surgery will take about 2 hours on each leg, after she is fully anesthetized and ready to go. Her recovery for that surgery will be possibly one day in Intensive care, and two days on the regular hospital floor. He said she may be discharged when WE feel her pain is managed. The downside with this surgery is that they will put plates and screws in to stabilize the joint, and they will need to be removed in 1 1/2 - 2 years. She will not need any type of cast at all, and her recovery will be much shorter. He said she can stand the next day (she won't like it, but she'll be able).
If she has the pelvis part done, the surgery will take all day. They will be doing everything related to the femoral osteotomies except she will not have the plates & screws because it requires a spica cast. (Click here to view a picture of a spica cast.) Putting the Spica cast on (only needed w/ the pelvis surgery) will take 45 mintues, itself. I mentioned in a previous blog entry that the cast will need to stay on for about 8 weeks. Obviously we're praying this avenue is not necessary!
One last thing is that throughout all of this, we've asked Dr. Todd for his prospective, as if it was his child. He told us today that his daughter, now 15, had this type of surgery done. She required the full surgery. He emphasized that he would never suggest doing any type of procedure that he wouldn't consider for his own child. We believed him before, but today that was reaffirmed for us. Olivia is in good hands!
I will read over this again and I will add more details if needed, but I want to get this out tonight.
I know many of you have been praying. I am certain your prayers are working... Please continue to pray for Olivia. She is such a blessing!!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment