My little 3yo finally got her cast off from her broken tib fib growth plate fracture (from trampoline accident last month). I've been really proud of her for getting around and walking, but her gait is off. She tends to walk with a limp, straight leg, and foot pointing out about 45 degree angle vs forward. She can stand straight with feet at parallel but as soon as she starts to walk her foot angles out again. She's not in pain, but I'm just heart broken each time I see her walking and just want her to be well again.
It's only been 4 days since the cast came off but I'm nervous about her recovery. Her Ortho mentioned she maybe limping for a while...what is a while?! Our next apt is later in the month. I heard PT usually is not needed at her age but if anyone had experience with similar type of walking issues I would love to get recommendations on best way to help her get her to walk normal again.
if you're actually 'heartbroken' about this, a quick call to her ortho for clarification would make a lot of sense.
it seems perfectly normal to me that a toddler who's been in a cast will take a few days to adjust once it's off.
khairete
S.
Gonna go out on a limb here & say there is not anything you can do, even at home, without professional guidance. That involves seeing a therapy specialist (either PT or OT).
Moms on this site may have experience with their own children, but no one can (or should) give you exercises/stretches/etc. to help, and none of us can diagnose whether just being an active child will improve her gait over time.
If you are concerned, contact your doctor and ask for a referral to a therapist, if nothing else, for a consultation & your peace of mind. T.
My son broke his leg around that age too. It was a looong time ago but I do remember him walking like he still had the cast on, I don't remember how long but eventually he got back to normal.
I suggest that getting her gait back will take as long as the time she wore the cast. My reasoning is that her muscles and how she used them changed the way she walked. Those muscles must now reshape themselves back to the way they need to be to allow her regular gait.
I'd call and ask the doctor for more information about the length of time for recovery and why.
Give her some time. It's been a while since she walked without a broken leg. Probably feels like cast is still on.
Well how long was the cast on? Because she wouldn't have used her leg muscles etc. in all that time right? So they are weakened. Totally normal. Will come back.
Was she given any kind of exercises to do to help strengthen her leg muscles - sometimes they do to help regain strength and mobility. Maybe they don't with little ones.
Usually they recommend abstaining from strenuous activities for as long as the cast was on. Roughly. So that gives you an idea how long it takes for it to fully heal/strengthen.
I'm sure it's all completely normal. They check to make it's healed correctly, and will again when you visit.
If you are concerned at all, book an appointment. Sometimes people use canes for a while after a cast removed, or they get a splint for breaks that have been in a cast. I'm guessing they don't feel it's necessary, so personally - I wouldn't be concerned.
If you want physical therapy .. then ask the doctor if they recommend it. They would advise the PT on what areas need to be strengthened.
Good luck :)
It might take a while for her to get back to normal. Six weeks is a long time to do something different. It might take that long to get back to normal.
I would consult with a physical therapist if I were you.
Completely different but I had surgery the first week in January to correct a knee alignment issue and my surgeon surgically broke me tibia. I was in a leg immobilizer for 7 weeks. Although my bone has healed, I have severe atrophy in my quadriceps muscle. For me to walk without a crutch or cane I "lock" my knee because if my knee is bent my quad is not strong enough to support me. Needless to say I am not walking normally yet either but PT is helping tremendously.
When I had my cast removed I had a sharp sharp pain shoot straight up my heel when I walked flat on my foot. I put the cast back on and gradually worked it out.
