Limb Longening Surgery
Limb lengthening surgery is a safe and highly effective method for correcting limb length discrepancies caused by congenital disorders, bone infections, or traumatic injury. Children, however, need special care and help in preparing for and recovering from any surgical procedure. Here are four ways that parents can support their children through the limb lengthening process.
Share Information and Answer Questions
You may be tempted to delay telling your child about an upcoming limb lengthening procedure to avoid scaring them. In fact, kids are far more likely to react with fear when caught by surprise. Talk to your child as far in advance of the procedure as you can, and raise the subject often, to give them time to get used to the idea, ask …show more content…
Let your child know that the doctors and nurses at the hospital are going to help make those tasks easier. Depending on the age of your child, use appropriate language and creative play to explore the kinds of things they will see and experience at the hospital, like having their blood pressure taken, going under anesthesia, waking up in the recovery room, and going to physical therapy.
Practice Coping With Fear and Pain
As a parent, there's nothing worse than feeling helpless in the face of your child's fear or pain. However, avoiding or glossing over the negative aspects of surgery is counterproductive. Instead, talk honestly about these feelings. If you've had surgery, tell your child about your own experience, and that while it was scary and painful in the short term, the results were worth it.
Help your child prepare for the experience by practicing healthy coping mechanisms. Breathe deeply together, think of happy memories that can serve as a distraction in difficult moments, and choose a favorite toy or piece of music to help soothe your child. Parents can practice talking to kids in a calm, soothing voice, using gentle touch and hand-holding for comfort, and modeling good behaviors by demonstrating trust in the doctors and hospital staff during pre-operative
Share Information and Answer Questions
You may be tempted to delay telling your child about an upcoming limb lengthening procedure to avoid scaring them. In fact, kids are far more likely to react with fear when caught by surprise. Talk to your child as far in advance of the procedure as you can, and raise the subject often, to give them time to get used to the idea, ask …show more content…
Let your child know that the doctors and nurses at the hospital are going to help make those tasks easier. Depending on the age of your child, use appropriate language and creative play to explore the kinds of things they will see and experience at the hospital, like having their blood pressure taken, going under anesthesia, waking up in the recovery room, and going to physical therapy.
Practice Coping With Fear and Pain
As a parent, there's nothing worse than feeling helpless in the face of your child's fear or pain. However, avoiding or glossing over the negative aspects of surgery is counterproductive. Instead, talk honestly about these feelings. If you've had surgery, tell your child about your own experience, and that while it was scary and painful in the short term, the results were worth it.
Help your child prepare for the experience by practicing healthy coping mechanisms. Breathe deeply together, think of happy memories that can serve as a distraction in difficult moments, and choose a favorite toy or piece of music to help soothe your child. Parents can practice talking to kids in a calm, soothing voice, using gentle touch and hand-holding for comfort, and modeling good behaviors by demonstrating trust in the doctors and hospital staff during pre-operative