surgery Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Resource Library - Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

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,...

It is very important that children are given regular painkillers after having a tonsillectomy, so that they can recover comfortably and begin to eat and drink normally as soon as possible. Here are some commonly asked questions and answers: Will my child experience a lot of pain? It is common for...

Why does my child need a preoperative care clinic appointment? A preoperative appointment allows us to prepare your child safely for their operation. It can help identify any areas where we can improve their general health before having an anaesthetic. It is also an opportunity for you to ask any...

What is local anaesthetic and how does it work? Local anaesthetic is a medicine that aims to numb a specific area of the body. It works by blocking the nerves that are sending pain messages to the brain and wears off after several hours. Why is local anaesthetic used for pain after surgery? Local...

People may react to specific chemicals around us. For most people this is a condition that develops only after coming into contact with the particular substance repeatedly. Unfortunately the reaction may get progressively more severe. We believe that your child is (or is at risk of becoming)...

A general anaesthetic means that your child will be given medicine to put them to sleep. They will not feel or remember the treatment. It can take up to 24 hours to recover from the effects of a general anaesthetic. What should I do? Please arrange for transport for your child to go home...

You will be reviewed by your consultant at approximately 8 weeks after your scoliosis surgery. At this appointment, the range of movement and posture of your spine will be checked. If you are struggling with feelings of stiffness or your consultant thinks your movement or posture could be improved,...

What is a tongue tie? The frenulum is a piece of tissue that attaches the underside of the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. A tongue tie is where the frenulum is too short or too tight. How common are tongue ties? Tongue ties happen in about 1 in 20 babies. What problems do… Continue...

Unfortunately, waiting times have increased due to the COVID-19 social distancing restrictions necessary on the hospital site and because, during the pandemic, we have been providing extra support to other hospitals in the region. As a result, the number of patients we would normally see has been...

What is hypospadias? This is a condition where the urethra (hole where urine comes out) is not in the correct place. It is instead further down and on the underside of the penis. The type of hypospadias is described by where the opening is. The mildest type (glanular) is where the opening is on...

What is an impalpable testicle? When the testicle has not ‘dropped’ into the scrotum, it may be in a few places. When your child was examined all these places were felt but no testicle could be found. The possibilities are that the testicle is inside the tummy, or has disappeared. Why...

What is selective dorsal rhizotomy? Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is a surgical procedure that aims to reduce tight and stiff muscle tone (spasticity) in the lower legs. It works by dividing some of the sensory nerve roots within the lumbar region of the spine (lower back). This may help to:...

Following surgery there are a number of things that may limit or slow your child’s speed of recovery. These are: General anaesthetic A general anaesthetic can cause the lungs to become drier than normal making it difficult to clear secretions. These secretions could lead to small areas of lung...

Your child has been referred for spinal surgery. This resource will give you some information about the monitoring your child’s surgeon has asked us to perform during surgery. What is spinal cord monitoring? Monitoring the spinal cord helps the surgeon to reduce the risk of nerve damage during...

It is important to exercise your joints after a burn injury. If the skin over or near a joint has been damaged by a burn, it has the potential to become tight and eventually contract. A contracture is a lack of movement at the joint and this will happen if it is not exercised regularly…...

What is a periacetabular osteotomy (PAO)? The hip joint is a ‘ball and socket’ joint, which is quite self explanatory. A periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is a complex surgery which is only performed in specialised centres, and allows the surgeon to position the hip socket where it is...

Why use a shunt? Shunts are used to manage a condition called hydrocephalus. If your child is diagnosed with hydrocephalus then using a shunt to manage their symptoms and keep them well will be considered by the neurosurgical team here at the Children’s. How does a shunt work? A shunt is a...

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...

What happens before surgery? A few weeks before your surgery you will be asked to come into hospital just for a day for a pre-operation assessment. This is to check that you are fit for the operation and to make sure you know what will happen and why. Some investigations will be carried out...

From your antenatal scans there are indications your baby may have oesophageal atresia which is usually with a tracheo-oesophageal fistula. This leaflet is to help you understand the condition and what will usually happen to your baby if they are diagnosed with Oesophageal Atresia, and are...

Your baby has been diagnosed with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. This information is to help you understand the condition and what will happen after your baby is born and comes to Sheffield Children’s Hospital for treatment and care. What is congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)? The diaphragm...