My 2 year old broke both of his legs in a sledding accident and now his legs look deformed. His legs were broken all the way through both shin bones in both legs, about 3 inches below the knees, not near the growth plates. He got casts put on and had them for 4 1/2 weeks. They removed them this week and I immediately noticed that his legs looked odd. His knees look like they bend inward towards each other. They literally look deformed. Very skinny and very different than they looked before the accident. Is this normal? Will it get better? I cry every time I look at his bare legs. This is a little boy who walked at 9 months of age and was the most coordinated little guy I have ever seen. He is barely crawling now. Please help.
I'd consider seeing an orothopedic for kids and see about some therapy for that leg. I know they loose some muscle mass from being in a cast however it sounds like some therapy is needed. I've never heard of a dr not having therapy prescribed for a child after a broken leg even with it not near the growth plate. I'd get a second opinion if this dr says no, remember many times it's their own personal belief.
When my oldest was 6 he broke his leg. He was in a full cast for 4 weeks then 1/2 cast for another 4 weeks. After he was done with the cast his muscles were so weak he walked with his foot pointed to the side. After about a week I took him back and they put him in physical therapy. It took about 6 weeks at 3x a week for him to build his muscles back up to walk right again. The physical therapy was fun for him. Some of it was done in a pool so of course he loved it. If it is still bad after a little while I'd take him back to see if he can have some physical therapy to help out or ask if there are any exercises or stretches you can do with him at home.
When my son broke his arm, his arm looked skinnier than the other one. He also had to do some physical therapy to build strength back in it.
Your son's legs will remodel and all be will fine sooner than you think. He will relearn to walk and build those legs back up. I am sure it does break your heart right now. Hang in there, their little bodies heal so quickly and they are so resilient.
It is normal for a body part to look funny, weak, thin, and pale after a cast comes off.
Just give him time. He still needs to heal. If I was you do not allow him to
run, jump, or play hard. Take it slow. Use a stroller to get him from point A to point B.
I wish you all the best.
My heart goes out to you all.
God bless.
Hi- I think it's normal for the legs to look a bit unnormal. I know when I got my cast off my arm it was way skinnier then my other arm and quite a bit weaker..If it were my child I would look into haveing Physical Therapy,which of course a Doctor would have to order,but he needs to strengthen his muscles again. Actualy I think I would almost demand it from the Doctor. Sometimes the Dr.'s may over look something like that or think,oh he's a child and will strength them on his own..which isn't alsays the case..
My best for you and your child
M.-
I'm so sorry about your little guy's accident. I would check with the pediatric orthopedist. It's normal for the casted legs to seem skinny and pale, they weren't used - I'm surprised that they didn't recommend any phyiscal therapy or exercises to rebuild the muscle tone. I think your help is going to come from seeking out a medical opinion
Good luck!
I was a medic for eight years. I often could not help but go back and check on some of my patients. Compound fractures are especially hard on us older folks but in a few weeks your childs legs should start to fill out again. As for the bowed inward look , it could take awhile. Hang in there he will get better.
My oldest broke his leg when he fell running down a carpeted ramp at the childrens museum. He was 20mos, and he had a cast on for 4wks. When it came off, his leg did look tiny, pale, and deformed. He didn't walk on it for 2wks, but he got stronger, and he's now 7.5yrs old and you would never know he had that broken leg 5yrs ago.
Give it some time, let him get plenty of exercise and encouragement to walk, he will be ok.
I think if it really looks odd that I might check with the pediatrician just in case, or an orthopedic doctor if it was the pediatrician that put the casts on.
This was heart wrenching to read. I have a 2 and a half year old and it makes me sick to my stomach to think of his having to go through this. You poor mommy and poor little guy.
I agree with the other comments - muscle wasting due to no/reduced use of the limb can really make the leg look different and sickly. As long as the bone has healed at the fracture site, his use of the limb should help the bone recover even better and once the muscle mass improves the legs will look as good as new. Physical therapy and his USE of his legs are the most important for this next stage of healing.
Good luck to you both. Let us know how things go in the next couple months. Did this cause emotional trauma for him?
These are questions you definitely need to be talking to your son's doctors about, and continue asking until you have all of the information you need. Make sure you see a pediatric specialist who deals with these situations all the time. I'm sure it has been traumatic for both of you. I hope your son heals soon!
I think it's normal, he has not been able to exercise them because they were in the casts, so they will look puny and he's prob going to need to do physical therapy to regain the muscle etc. But I'm no doctor. Be patient, I'm sure he'll be fine with some practice if the doctors says so. Thats awful to hear and scary! Accidents happen, dont beat yourself up about it. Mine got stiches on her forhead and has a scar. Also burned her hand....She's fine though. Kids are tough.
