PLRS Archives - Resource Library - Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

What is humeral rodding? Rodding surgery provides rigid fixation where the bones can heal in the correct alignment. The rod is called an ‘intramedullary’ rod which means ‘inside the bone’. You may have been offered this type of surgery because you have had lots of arm...

Intramedullary means ‘within the bone’. An intramedullary nail goes into the bone to align and stabilise the breaks (fractures). The nails we use are either Fitbone or Precice. The surgeon will discuss which one will be the most suitable to use for your child. They lengthen the bone from the...

This resource is for children who are having limb reconstruction treatment. We know that new bone formation is affected by smoking, which includes passive smoking (breathing in other people’s smoke) and the use of e-cigarettes (vapes). How long will my child’s external fixator be needed?...

What is a bone graft? Bone grafts are used when a broken bone fails to heal. This can also be from not healing after lengthening. When this happens, it is called a ‘non-union’ or even a ‘delayed union’ when the bone healing is taking longer than usual to heal, leaving a possible gap with...

You may want to make your own cover for your frame as they are quite expensive to buy. Some people have used snoods, leg warmers or cut off the ends of old jogging bottoms and these are a similar alternative to making a full frame cover. If you decide to make a frame cover, here… Continue...

What is a hip distractor? Children may have articulated hip distractions for conditions such as Perthes disease or Avascular Necrosis of the hip. The distractor moves the hip joint to encourage it to remodel. One type of hip distraction fixator is without the night time extension strut. It is...

How do the frames work? To help limb correction to take place, the metal frame is attached around your child’s limb. This is done by passing metal pins through the skin, muscle and bone. At the same time a break is made in the bone. Once the frame is in place, the broken bone can… Continue...

This resource is aimed at children aged 7 to 12 years old but may be found useful by anyone who is undergoing limb reconstruction surgery themselves or who knows somebody who is. It can be used to help you look at how you feel about the surgery and give you some ideas to help you… Continue...

Children’s Orthopaedic surgery has many benefits but there is no certain way to predict the outcome of surgery or treatment. The following are some of the recognised complications and risks of any Orthopaedic treatment. There may be others but they are very rare. Complications related to the bone...

Physiotherapy is a key part of what happens after your surgery. Physiotherapy will start the first day after surgery and will continue on a daily basis throughout your treatment. What do I need to do? During your stay on the ward you will need to complete these tasks with the therapist and on your...

If your child is having limb reconstruction surgery, you and your child may be feeling apprehensive, excited, or confused. We hope to give you some idea of what is ahead of you as a family and how to cope with treatment. Every family is different and has its own way of dealing with things,...

The ‘Precice Nail’ is a very clever metal rod that is inserted into a bone and used to lengthen it. It is similar to FITBONE nail. The Surgeon will make a surgical break (osteotomy) in the bone and insert the nail. You are not allowed to fully walk on the operated leg until the...

This resource has been designed to help you remember the exercises your therapist taught and practised with you. The exercises should be done slowly and smoothly. You might feel some discomfort whilst doing these exercises after your surgery or injury. If pain limits your ability to do your...

This resource has been designed to help you remember the exercises your therapist taught and practiced with you. The exercises should be done slowly and smoothly. Some discomfort may be felt whilst doing these exercises after your surgery or injury. If pain limits your ability to do your exercises,...

This resource has been designed to help you remember the exercises your therapist taught and practiced with you. The exercises should be done slowly and smoothly. You may have some discomfort while doing these exercises after your surgery. If pain limits your ability to do your exercises, then...

This resource has been designed to help you remember the exercises your therapist taught and practised with you. The exercises should be done slowly and smoothly. You may feel some discomfort whilst doing these exercises after your surgery or injury. If pain limits your ability to do your exercises,...

This resource has been designed to help you remember the exercises your therapist taught and practiced with you. The exercises should be done slowly and smoothly. You may have some discomfort while doing these exercises after your surgery. If pain limits your ability to do your exercises, then...

What is Perthes disease? Perthes disease is a childhood disorder which affects the top of the femur bone. The femur is the bone in your thigh. It affects the ball part of the ball and socket joint where it meets the hip. In Perthes disease, the blood supply to the top of the femur is…...

Introduction The limb reconstruction service provides treatments for children with limb discrepancies and deformities as well as restricted growth. Many of the operations we do rely upon the use of ‘external fixation devices’. From start to finish the whole process takes many months and we hope...

Pin site care information for patients with external fixators If your treatment is to be a success it is essential that you keep your pin sites clean. If your pin sites become seriously infected your treatment may have to be stopped. At worst, a serious pin site infection can lead to...

Bolster dressings are used to prevent excessive soft tissue movement around skeletal screws, pins or wires. They are generally used on femoral screw sites, or on half-pin sites on Ilizarov or Taylor spatial frames. Reducing soft tissue movement with the application of a bolster dressing can lessen...

A hip spica is a cast (the same type of plaster we use to splint broken bones) which extends from the abdomen and down both legs. How far down the leg it comes depends on the reason for the cast. Some spicas have a cross bar between the legs which adds stability to casts in… Continue Reading...

What is an epiphysiodesis? An epiphysiodesis is a way of partially stopping growth in a longer leg or arm bone by destroying the ‘growth plate’. Since the shorter limb (non-operative limb) continues to grow as before, this has the effect of allowing the shorter limb to ‘catch...